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29 December 2010 | 14:02 | FOCUS News Agency
Home / European Union
Paris. French health watchdogs said on Wednesday the country was officially in the grip of a flu epidemic after 176,000 people had fallen sick, two of whom have died, AFP reported.
To be classified as an epidemic, new cases of influenza recorded by doctors have to number more than 174 per 100,000 people per week.
This threshold was breached last week, when there were 280 cases per 100,000 people.
Three viral strains are to blame, including A(H1N1) 2009, which emerged last year as the novel "swine" flu, according to the epidemiological networks Regional Flu Observation Groups (GROG) and Sentinelles, which is operated by the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm).
On December 23, Britain's health authorities said 27 people had died of flu, 24 of them from swine flu.
Agencies in both countries have urged people in at-risk groups - particularly the elderly and those with respiratory problems - to get vaccinated.
So-called "seasonal" flu epidemics are annual health problems in temperate countries with the onset of winter.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), flu epidemics result globally in about three to five million cases of severe illness per year and 250,000-500,000 deaths.

The High Council of Public Health (HCSP) reported on Thursday 30 December, 25 serious cases related to influenza requiring hospitalization in intensive care in France. Of these, 17 are directly associated with influenza A (H1N1) 2009, including two pregnant women and four people with obesity. Six deaths were also recorded, including one related to influenza A (H3N2) virus to a B and four influenza A (H1N1) 2009.

"In total, to date, although co-circulating with influenza A (H3N2) and B, influenza A (H1N1) 2009 keeps the characteristics of the pandemic virus by its propensity to cause severe respiratory complications like ARDS, in affect young subjects with and without risk factors, "the HCSP.

As such, the High Council of Public Health recommends that pregnant women and obese people to be vaccinated quickly to reduce the risk of developing the disease. The French organization also advocates for patients younger than 65 with risk factors benefit from vaccination against seasonal influenza, emphasizing "the risk of serious influenza and death" in these subjects.

To note, the incidence of influenza-like illness has exceeded the epidemic threshold during the week of December 20 to 26, according to the latest bulletin Riverkeeper Network published Wednesday, December 29

Archive Number 20101231.4597
Published Date 31-DEZ-2010
Subject PRO / POR> Influenza: France and Portugal


INFLUENZA: FRANCE AND PORTUGAL ************************** A message / Una mensaje / of ProMED-mail < http://www.promedmail. org > ProMED-mail and a program of / es un program de la International Society for Infectious Diseases < http://www.isid.org > Date: Thursday / Jueves, 31 December / Diciembre 2010 De: Promed- Port < Promed-Port@promedmail.org > Source: [see below] ?????????????????????? France Prensa Latina [29.12.2010]
http://www.prensa-latina.cu/index.php?o ... &id=250863
& Itemid = 1 flu epidemic levels in France France has confirmed the arrival of the flu epidemic after of 176 000 cases reported last week, the monitoring center Sentinelles-INSERM, in its latest bulletin. 20 to December 26 were recorded 111,000 visits for influenza was most prevalent in the north. At regional level, 12 areas exceeded the limit for the flu epidemic (174 cases per 100 000 inhabitants). The highest incidences occur in North Paso de Calais (405), Center (399), Ile de France (382), Britain (370) and Lower Normandy (266). The mean age was 24 years and men accounted for 52 percent of cases. Not reported flu-related hospitalization, the bulletin said. He added that the peak of the outbreak should occur in January after students return to class. The health agency said the cases are those reported by family physicians according to the definition adopted by Sentinelles, why are not counting those served by other means or those who do not go to the doctor. Experts stress the need for vaccination of 12.5 million at risk (over 65, chronically ill, health professionals, among others), only 5.5 million people have taken this prevention. .................................................. .......................... ...........

2] France: H1N1 fatalities, 2009-2010
Date: Tue 11 Jan 2011
Source: BEH (Bulletin Epidemiologique Hebdomadaire) 2011, no 1 [edited]
<http://www.invs.sante.fr/beh/2011/01/#1_en>


Specific features of influenza related deaths during the A(H1N1) pandemic
in 2009-2010 in France
----------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract
--------
Introduction: This article compares the demographic and medical features of
influenza related deaths during the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in
2009-2010 to seasonal influenza related deaths since 2000, as observed from
the death certificates in France.

Methods: Different parameters of age and sex distribution were established
for the 2009-2010 influenza pandemic and for all preceding influenza
seasons since 2000. The average number of diagnoses mentioned on the death
certificates and the frequency of pathologies declared concomitantly to
influenza were studied. Death certificates mentioning "influenza A" and
"unspecified influenza" were distinguished in 2009-2010.

Results: 349 influenza related deaths were registered during the pandemic.
The average age of death was 59.4 years in 2009-2010 versus 81.7 years
during the preceding seasons. The number of diagnoses reported on the death
certificates was higher in 2009-2010. The specific pathologies studied
appear with a similar frequency on the death certificates during the
different seasons.

Conclusion: Influenza related deaths in 2009-2010 present atypical
demographic features in comparison to preceding seasons. The population
concerned is much younger. On the other hand, the co morbidities of the
deceased people are similar.

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Taken together these reports reinforce the message that the avian A/(H5N1)
influenza virus is potentially a greater threat to human welfare than the
pandemic A/(H1N1) 2009 virus. - Mod.CP]

[see also:
Influenza (02): UK 20110107.0086
Influenza: Egypt 20110103.0029]

.................cp/mj/sh

(ANSA) - Paris, 12 JAN - A woman of 37 years hospitalized in Poitiers, central France, and 'died Saturday after contracting the influenza virus H1N1, according to reports from health sources. In addition, the newspaper La Nouvelle Republique du Centre Ouest, writes today of another death related to the virus since the beginning of January. The woman would die for a lung infection that followed the virus and that, at the start, did not have specific risk factors.

The flu is more intense than last year, four persons still in ICU
Sunday, 16.01.2011, 5:04 - La Voix du Nord

The DrDubart finds a reflux of the flu, but recent weeks have shown that cases are more serious than the end of 2009.

It is much less on the front of the scene last year and yet, the flu strikes. H1N1 in particular. For three weeks, she turns up the fever to hospital emergency and when the ebb begins, finally, four people remain in intensive care. The youngest is thirty years.

The calm after the storm? That would be asking too much. Emergencies, stress never falls completely. But the fever caused by flu since the inter-party seems to subside. Dr. Eric-Alain Dubart fingers crossed. It is one of five emergency service under pressure by nature. Minor cuts and bruises Christmas and New Year, injured, various pathologies and varied ... It is broken for years. Influenza is an opponent of most of those who give trouble. "The maximum of the epidemic is under way for 3 or 4 weeks. That does not mean that we welcome more patients: on average, turn to 100 entries per day, where we were at 110 or 115. "All diseases combined course.
The difference is not huge and it is not complicating the work of the medical team, to cope, has strengthened the nurses. All vaccinated, always close at nose mask. "The difference from 2009 is that they are more serious cases. Four people remain in intensive care. They have 30 to 50 years and two related diseases show no aggravating.
In winter 2009, "many patients have had but it was not so serious." We had then fixed the peak at Christmas, when eight patients were hospitalized because of influenza, without heavy consequences. This time, "it focused on more serious cases." Just enough to complicate the lives of emergency: across the region, "the services were saturated realistic." The fault in the winter and its attendant diseases particularly affecting the elderly.
Anne Savinel, the referent of the flu-and hospital-Germon Gauthier, says: "Sometimes we were unable to admit all patients in the territory. Lens and Arras were too saturated, so we turned to Divion Mahaut for older ... She believes that so far "we have detected more cases of flu that the whole epidemic period last year." And this when the first cases appeared later. Dr. Dubart notes that this year, "the winter started later for us. Last year, it was just after the cough but this time the first cases appeared between the parties. "
Lapped by the national plan enacted last year, staff juggling logistics. "Internally, our flu patients are isolated in a room and staff wearing protective clothing to avoid contamination. It is broken but the hospital is full as an egg! "No deaths to mourn and Dr. Dubart hopes to stay there. For serious cases, samples are taken and sent to the Pasteur Institute for testing. But the outcome is little doubt that H1N1.
Since late last week, the optimists are betting on a reflux of influenza, H1N1 or seasonal. An observation shared by many city doctors. "In late January, we will come out. "Still, the emergency physician will not deter the laggards of vaccination.