The flu epidemic of "high magnitude", which this year has hit the elderly, has contributed to excess winter mortality record of 18,300 deaths in France, according to the final report of the Health Monitoring Institute (InVS) on Friday .
This is the highest figure since the establishment of the evaluation system of excess winter mortality, that is to say since the winter of 2006-2007. The previous estimate of InVS (12,300 deaths) did not correspond to a national estimate.
Dominated by A / H3N2 (part was not covered by the vaccine), the epidemic has led 2.9 million people to consult ILI. "It is considered that with those who did not consult, flu affected 5.8 million people," says Dr. François Bourdillon, general manager of InVS.
The magnitude of the epidemic, which reached its peak in February, had led to tensions in hospitals, leading the government to launch emergency measures on 19 February that allowed particularly to reopen beds or deprogramming non urgent operations, to deal with the influx of patients.
This is the highest figure since the establishment of the evaluation system of excess winter mortality, that is to say since the winter of 2006-2007. The previous estimate of InVS (12,300 deaths) did not correspond to a national estimate.
The magnitude of the epidemic, which reached its peak in February, had led to tensions in hospitals, leading the government to launch emergency measures on 19 February that allowed particularly to reopen beds or deprogramming non urgent operations, to deal with the influx of patients.
