In addition to the corona pandemic, a flu epidemic is spreading in France. An EU authority is now sounding the alarm.
Frankfurt – Relatively low influenza infections have been recorded in the past two winters. In the course of the corona measures, significantly fewer people contracted the flu. However, influenza viruses are now spreading surprisingly quickly.
According to a report by the EU disease control agency ECDC, the virus has been spreading faster than initially forecast since mid-December 2021. By the last week of December, the number of flu cases in Europe’s intensive care units had risen to 43. Compared to corona cases with a severe course of Covid 19 in intensive care units, this is little. Compared to the previous year, when there was only one case of flu in an intensive care unit in December 2020, this is a dramatic increase.
EU disease control agency warns of flu season until summer
“If we start to lift all measures, I have a great concern with regard to influenza that we may deviate from the normal course of the season because the virus has hardly circulated in the European population for so long,” warned Pasi Penttinen, influenza Expert at the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, told Reuters news agency. The flu season usually ends in May. However, if the corona protection measures were reduced in spring, influenza viruses could also circulate much longer. A “twindemic”, i.e. a twin epidemic of influenza and Covid-19, could put the already overburdened health systems under high pressure, according to the report by the EU authority.
Flu more dangerous than Corona? Incidences and deaths in comparison
According to the ECDC report, more and more cases of flu were registered in France in particular. According to data from the French Ministry of Health, three regions in particular are affected, including Île-de-France around Paris. A certain influenza virus strain seems to prevail: H3 of the alpha genus.
The common flu vaccines are currently being tested for H3. According to Penttinen, the first laboratory tests showed that the effect on H3 was “not optimal”. An adjustment of the vaccine is necessary. Similar to the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus, influenza also mutates, the ECDC expert emphasized.
Influenza vaccination data is not available across Europe. In France, however, it is currently affected: According to the Ministry of Health, around 45 percent of the target group have been vaccinated, which corresponds to around twelve million people. (tu/rtr)
