The flu epidemic, which has been particularly virulent this season, continued to slow last week in France, particularly among children, who have been particularly affected in recent weeks, the public health agency said on Wednesday.
"In France, flu indicators were significantly decreasing in all age groups, particularly among children," summarized Public Health France (SPF) in a weekly report ending Sunday, February 23.
"However, flu activity remained high with all regions still experiencing epidemics" in mainland France, the agency said.
Most of the overseas territories also remain affected, as the epidemic continues to affect Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana and Mayotte.
The epidemic had already been declining for several weeks among adults, but many children were still being sent to hospital.
More broadly, this season has seen a flu epidemic of rare virulence. It has proven particularly deadly among the elderly.
This situation is linked to several factors: three strains of the virus are circulating simultaneously and the vaccine has proven to be of limited effectiveness, particularly in those over 65, where its effectiveness is estimated at only 27%.
"Given the low efficacy of the flu vaccine in those aged 65 and over this season (...) the systematic adoption of barrier measures within the general population remains essential to help limit the circulation of respiratory viruses," Public Health France reiterated.
The vaccination campaign, coupled with the anti-Covid vaccine, will end on Friday after being extended by a month in view of the virulence of the epidemic.
Covid, for its part, remains at a low point with “stable indicators at a low level.”
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