Overview
- Surveillance for week 51 shows nationwide growth with every metropolitan region in epidemic and the sharpest rise in children under 15, with 349 consultations per 100,000 people and 19.28% of SOS Médecins visits for flu‑like illness.
- Institut Pasteur’s model estimates a 72.5% chance the peak occurs in week 52 and 22.5% in early January, with authorities anticipating a significant hospital impact during year‑end leave.
- Type A viruses predominate with H3N2 leading since week 49; a virologist reports the H3N2 sub‑clade K shows partial immune escape that may boost transmission without evidence of greater severity.
- To manage winter surges during the holidays, the Bouches‑du‑Rhône prefecture requisitioned 17 general practitioners through January 4.
- Vaccination coverage remains incomplete at 38.1% among targeted groups (44.2% in those 65+ and 21.3% in at‑risk under‑65s), and officials urge vaccination plus masking with symptoms, hand hygiene and ventilation.