Seasonal circumstances of influenza in France have reached epidemic ranges sooner than typical in 2025, however it’s nonetheless not too late to get vaccinated, officers have stated.
Seasonal flu and bronchiolitis epidemics have unfold throughout virtually all of metropolitan France for the reason that starting of December, with Corsica — the final area nonetheless at pre-epidemic ranges — anticipated to comply with quickly, in accordance with a Santé Publique France report printed on Wednesday.
📢 Epidémie de #grippe en hexagone
➡️L’ensemble des régions hexagonales en épidémie exceptée la Corse, passée en pré-épidémie.
📰 Bulletin de surveillance épidémiologique des infections respiratoires aiguës (IRA) du 10/12 : https://t.co/Ad9rhY3PCy pic.twitter.com/mp9wX0jwuh
— SantépubliqueFrance (@SantePubliqueFr) December 10, 2025
The week ending December seventh, noticed the “continued enhance in flu indicators in all age teams,” Santé Publique France stated in its weekly report, noting that “all metropolitan areas (are) in epidemic aside from Corsica, which has moved into pre-epidemic”.
With circumstances reported as early as September in some hospitals, the 2025 flu season is a number of weeks forward of its ‘traditional’ winter schedule, which often peaks in January in France.
La #grippe cette année ? Tout est réuni pour “une saison assez corsée” et “plusieurs facteurs nous font craindre une épidémie sérieuse”. Un fil à dérouler ⤵️ @leparisien.fr 1/8 www.leparisien.fr/so…
— Nicolas Berrod (@nicolasberrod.bsky.social) December 11, 2025 at 9:33 AM
As properly as being sooner than typical, an unfamiliar variant can be spreading. A subgroup of the H3N2 pressure, referred to as the Okay variant, has mutated in such a method that it has turn into extra transmissible between people.
Although it’s extra infectious, it’s not extra critical than the H1N1 and predominant H3N2 strains which are additionally spreading throughout the nation. This yr’s vaccine was created earlier than the Okay variant’s unfold, so shouldn’t be as efficient at defending towards it — however inoculation stays the most effective defence towards flu, significantly for these in weak teams.
A flu jab is really useful each autumn for folks aged 65 and over, pregnant girls, and anybody not less than six months outdated with a comorbidity that places them susceptible to extreme sickness, from cardiorespiratory ailments and diabetes to weight problems and immunosuppression.
Those who’re within the goal teams can nonetheless get the vaccine from both their physician or native pharmacy, however should pay – the associated fee is round €10.
READ ALSO: How to get the flu and Covid-19 vaccines in France✎
Nous ne sommes pas désarmés pour autant ! La vaccination démarre beaucoup plus vite que l’année dernière : 10 tens of millions de doses déjà distribuées en pharmacie, en hausse de 16%. Mais le vaccin de cette année a été fabriqué au printemps dernier, avant que le variant Okay n’arrive. 6/8
— Nicolas Berrod (@nicolasberrod.bsky.social) December 11, 2025 at 9:33 AM
The excellent news is that take-up of the flu vaccine this yr is greater and has been extra speedy than in earlier years.
The vaccine is accessible at pharmacies and with one hundred pc of the associated fee lined for goal populations.
READ ALSO How to get the flu and Covid-19 vaccines in France
Other preventive measures are additionally efficient at slowing the unfold of the virus embrace:
- If you possibly can, keep at residence;
- Wear a masks in crowded locations or within the presence of individuals in danger as quickly as you expertise signs (fever, runny nostril, or cough);
- Wash palms completely and often with cleaning soap and water or a hydroalcoholic resolution;
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow;
- Ventilate rooms often.
During final yr’s flu epidemic, 17,600 folks died, in accordance with figures from Santé Publique France.
