Overview
- During the week ending December 28, Santé publique France counted 18,552 emergency visits for flu (5.2% of all ER activity) and 3,606 hospital admissions (4.8%).
- Deaths mentioning influenza rose to 4.1% of electronic death certificates, with roughly nine in ten among people aged 65 and over, whose vaccine coverage stood at 44.2% as of November 30.
- Institut Pasteur modeling indicates the peak most likely occurred in late December or could arrive in early January, while authorities caution that strong pressure on healthcare services in the coming weeks cannot be ruled out.
- Nouvelle‑Aquitaine reported 1,509 ER visits for influenza in one week, up 20% from the prior week, with hospitals facing heavier strain than last season and staff requisitioned.
- Bronchiolitis continues to weigh on pediatric services even as ER visits have eased nationally, and health authorities urge vaccination plus masking when symptomatic, handwashing and ventilation.