H1N1 is spreading faster in France than elsewhere in Europe
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H1N1 in Euope as of 9/14/09. The darker the color, the greater the number of confirmed cases. Fonadier (CC)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced today that whereas H1N1 infection rates are relatively low in almost all Asian and European countries, the number of cases in France is increasing.
“Flu activity remains generally low in Europe and Asia with the exception of France, which has reported increases in flu contaminations well above the normal seasonal level for the 37th consecutive week," said WHO spokesman M. Gregory Hartl. "France is the European country with the most cases right now.”
He went on to quote a situation round-up issued on Tuesday by the French body responsible for tracking H1N1’s progress, the ‘l'Institut de veille sanitaire.’ France has a population of 60 million, and the Institute announced that it had discovered an infection rate of 164 people in 100,000.
That is roughly double the figure at which Franch authorities had decided to declare an epidemic.
The number of new flu cases in France was quoted as reaching 103,000 somewhere between September 7-13.
Tests are not always carried out to identify which strain of the virus is responsible for the infections, but the rapid onset and size of the epidemic has led WHO specialists to conclude that it consists largely of H1N1 infections.
Latest figures show that 27 people have died of H1N1 infection in France, including at least four “very healthy” people in their 20s. The average age of those infected is 20, with the youngest case at 5 months old and the oldest at 88. More females than males – 55 per cent – have been infected.
Also, the number of grouped infections is high, with most of them taking place in schools, hundreds of which have been wholly or partially closed down sice the epidemic began.
French authorities fixed the H1N1 alert level at 5 a few weeks ago, and a Health Ministry announcement yesterday said that the government had no intention of moving up to level 6 yet, although the rate of infection is almost unanimously expected to increase over the next few weeks.
The French do not seem to be panicking at this stage however, and the author of this column, who lives near downtown in France’s second-biggest city, has not seen one person wearing an anti-flu mask in public up to now.
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If we had such high rates, I think our clinics and emergency rooms would be overflowing.
It's kind of strange that people are so fatalistic. Mind you, this news is certain to be met with a "What are the authorities lousing up for us to be last" type French national pride reaction.
Just three months ago, the French had LESS cases than anywhere else, although some of the earliest cases were in France.
Europeans have not by and large got the flu shot yet. There are also concerns about mixing the common flu shot with anti-H1N1 shots.......
Herbal remedies? Well, I smoke one very small joint a day. Let's hope that works!
:)
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