France - 2025 Seasonal Flu

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Flu epidemic: emergency rooms overwhelmed, white plan triggered at Nantes University Hospital

The Nantes University Hospital launched the white plan on Monday, January 6, to deal with the influx of patients in the emergency room. The cause is the flu epidemic that is currently hitting the region.

Ouest France
Modified on06/01/2025 at 3:02 p.m.
Published on06/01/2025 at 2:26 p.m.

According to the CGT, on Monday, January 6, at 10 a.m., the emergency department of the Nantes University Hospital had more than 120 patients. "People aged over 80, some of whom have cognitive disorders, are waiting more than 92 hours before being transferred to a conventional department to be hospitalized, due to a lack of available beds, while the waiting time, said to be reasonable , "has been set at twelve hours," says Olivier Terrien, CGT delegate at the University Hospital.

Recall staff

In a press release, the management of the CHU explains that the white plan allows "adapting the organization to manage the tense situation in the emergency room" and recalling staff. Scheduled operations can, for example, be delayed to free up beds.

Cooperation is also being strengthened with the establishments of Loire-Atlantique. Today, hospitalized patients are being referred to the Jules-Verne mutualist clinic due to a lack of beds at the CHU.

Best practices

In the event of symptoms appearing, it is advisable to "consult your doctor as a priority", the CHU specifies in a press release. In the event of the latter's absence or unavailability, "you can consult your pharmacist, who will give you advice, or contact a home or health center near you to get an appointment". And to add: "You can contact the 15 center to receive medical advice by telephone, to be informed of where to consult the nearest on-call doctor, to receive a visit from an on-call doctor or SOS Médecins, to be referred for hospital care."

https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de...e-nantes-292cd77a-cc31-11ef-a918-9f91756062b6

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Hospital tensions in adult emergency departments: Nantes University Hospital launches its white plan


[FONT=fira_sansbold]Published January 6, 2025 – Updated January 6, 2025[/FONT]

[FONT=fira_sansbold]Date(s)[/FONT]
January 6, 2025


The Nantes University Hospital is today activating its white plan, level 2 of the institution's emergency plans, in order to cope with very high activity in adult emergency departments due to the flu epidemic that is raging throughout the country and has intensified in recent days.

As everywhere in France, the flu virus is currently raging in the Pays de la Loire, causing high tensions in the emergency departments of the territory's establishments.

While the flu epidemic has intensified further in recent days, requiring a greater need for hospitalization capacities, the Nantes University Hospital has decided to activate the white plan.

This decision should make it possible to mobilize the entire hospital community to adapt organizations and take exceptional measures to manage the situation.
Thus, several actions have been taken and are currently being implemented:

• Reorganization of care activities: decisions to deprogram outpatient surgery care are taken in a targeted manner
• Increase in hospitalization capacity downstream of the emergency department at the Nord Laennec hospital and Hôtel-Dieu sites
• Strengthened cooperation with establishments in the territory 44

These measures complement the actions already implemented as part of the Nantes University Hospital's emergency action plan announced before the winter: increasing the number of beds available for emergency patients, strengthening medical and paramedical resources in the emergency department to secure the waiting line in particular (after the initial prioritization examination and before access to the treatment boxes), opening additional scanner slots dedicated to the emergency department of the University Hospital to speed up patient care.

The situation is assessed every day within a dedicated crisis unit to adjust the resources deployed as closely as possible to the needs.

The hospital management apologizes to patients and their families for the inconvenience caused and is doing everything possible to return to a normal situation as soon as possible. It would like to express its gratitude to the caregivers who are committed and fully mobilized to ensure patient care in a difficult context.

In this context, the Nantes University Hospital reminds you of the conduct to adopt in the event of a health problem to avoid overloading hospital services:

If symptoms appear, you should consult your doctor as a priority.

If your doctor is absent or unavailable, you can consult your pharmacist, who will give you advice, or contact a home or health center near you to get an appointment.

You can contact the 15 center to:

• to receive medical advice by telephone
• to be informed of where to consult the nearest on-call doctor
• to receive a visit from an on-call doctor or SOS Médecins
• to be referred for hospital care

https://www.chu-nantes.fr/tensions-...tes-le-chu-de-nantes-declenche-son-plan-blanc
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Flu epidemic: around twenty hospitals have activated the white plan

The dynamism of seasonal flu and other respiratory illnesses is putting pressure on hospitals throughout France.

Article written by franceinfo with AFP
France Televisions
Published 01/07/2025 20:04

Hospitals under pressure, faced with a major seasonal flu epidemic . While the Ministry of Health is unable to provide an estimate of the number of hospitals in "white plan", at least twenty hospitals in France have triggered them in response to the influx of patients in their emergency departments, according to a count made by AFP based on information published online by the establishments or the administration.

These plans allow hospitals to take exceptional measures to deal with an influx of patients, such as the rescheduling of certain operations, the reassignment or recall of staff on leave. According to several sources, this count is probably underestimated. "In the Pays-de-la-Loire alone, we have 6 blank plans ," Dominique Savary, the head of the Angers Emergency Department, told AFP.

The new Minister of Health Yannick Neuder, interviewed in Rennes on the sidelines of a trip, acknowledged that this increase in white plans "reflects the state of tension in which our health system finds itself". "One of my priorities will be to promote everything that can produce care on the territory" , to "avoid systematic recourse to emergency services".

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/m...opitaux-ont-active-le-plan-blanc_7000109.html

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Emergency rooms saturated by the flu epidemic: "We are very concerned", warns a department head at Tenon hospital

Gilles Pialoux, head of the infectious and tropical diseases department at Tenon Hospital in Paris, fears a scenario similar to the winter of 2017-2018, which led to excess mortality. "We have bad memories" of episodes that start early.

Article written by franceinfo
Radio France
Published 01/08/2025 12:56

"The slope is quite steep, we are very concerned ," warned Gilles Pialoux, head of the infectious and tropical diseases department at Tenon Hospital in Paris, on franceinfo on Wednesday, January 8, as the flu puts hospitals under pressure. Around twenty establishments have activated the White Plan .

"When we look at Christmas week, it's completely vertical in the increase in the number of cases and it's much earlier" than usual, the doctor specifies. "We are always wary of these episodes of seasonal flu that start early because sometimes, they are in two waves. We have bad memories, especially in 2017-2018 ," he recalls. The flu had caused an estimated excess mortality of 13,000 deaths during the winter of 2017-2018.

Insufficient vaccination rate

This year, the emergency room is mainly dealing with cases of influenza A. "It's a very tense situation, we're very concerned ," confides Gilles Pialoux. On Tuesday at the Tenon hospital, "we had 20 stretcher beds. These are not people waiting to be examined, these are people who have been examined and for whom we are waiting for a bed and who can stay several days on this stretcher bed. It's really a marker," he says. The Parisian hospital has opened a 10-bed room to relieve the emergency room.

Gilles Pialoux regrets the low rate of vaccination against influenza: "If we look at people at risk over 65, last year we were at 54% vaccination while the objective is rather 75-80%". He considers the vaccination coverage of caregivers also "totally insufficient". "It's still mind-boggling. In public hospitals, we must be around 18% vaccinated" , he protests.

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/m...f-de-service-de-l-hopital-tenon_7001603.html​

 

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Flu epidemic: 87 hospitals have triggered the white plan, announces the Ministry of Health

from Victor Tribot Laspière

Friday, January 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
By ici

Faced with the flu epidemic, 87 hospitals have triggered the white plan, a system which allows certain operations to be cancelled or staff on leave to be recalled, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday.

Due to the sharp increase in flu cases in France, 87 hospitals have triggered the white plan, the Ministry of Health said on Friday. This system allows certain non-urgent operations to be cancelled or staff on leave to be recalled.

The winter flu epidemic, which usually lasts ten to twelve weeks, intensified at the beginning of January and is causing hospitalizations at an " exceptionally high " level compared to previous seasons, Public Health France (SpF) observed on Wednesday.

To protect against this, the authorities regularly remind that vaccination remains the most effective, particularly against severe forms of influenza and Covid-19. It is recommended for people aged 65 and over, immunocompromised people, infants over six months old with comorbidities, pregnant women and residents in medico-social establishments.

On CNews-Europe 1, Catherine Vautrin called on " those who have not yet been vaccinated " to do so. " When we look at arrivals at the emergency room and in particular cases of complications, more than 70% of them are people who have not been vaccinated and who are eligible ," she stressed.

https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/san...-blanc-selon-le-ministere-de-la-sante-5684691

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Strong flu epidemic in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, to protect ourselves and others, let's think about barrier gestures!

Press release
January 10, 2025

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Among people aged 65 and over, the level of visits to emergency rooms is exceptionally high for this season. To preserve one's health and that of others, but also to preserve the health system and the professionals who work there, the ARS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes wishes to remind people of the importance of maintaining or re-appropriating certain good reflexes.

Hospital tensions: healthcare establishments are taking specific management measures

Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that can be serious in the most vulnerable people. Occurring every year, the epidemic is circulating at a particularly high rate this winter with, according to Public Health France, 2,068 visits to emergency rooms, including 512 followed by hospitalization in the first week of 2025. Hospitalizations for influenza or influenza-like illness represent 6% of all hospitalizations in week 1, an increase compared to the previous week. Among people aged 65 and over, the level of visits to emergency rooms is exceptionally high, higher than all epidemics since 2010.
In order to cope with the epidemic and facilitate the continuity of care, around twenty establishments in the region have activated their white plan and/or have implemented specific management measures to date. Several levers have been activated: reopening of beds, early discharges, use of home hospitalization, territorial coordination between public and private establishments on critical care beds, etc. Barrier measures within establishments have been reinforced (wearing of masks for health professionals and visitors).

The Regional Health Agency is monitoring the situation daily alongside the establishments.

Simple, civic actions can prevent and limit the impact of the virus on the most vulnerable and also avoid the saturation of health services.

Wear a mask if you have symptoms and especially when visiting a vulnerable relative

Barrier gestures are effective in limiting the transmission of all respiratory viruses (flu, Covid, bronchiolitis) but also gastroenteritis. Combined, they block viruses and limit their spread.

1. Wear a mask if you have symptoms (sore throat and/or cough, fever), especially in crowded places or in the presence of people at risk of serious illness.
2. Regularly air and ventilate premises (offices, classrooms) and your home.
3. Wash your hands regularly.
4. Use disposable tissues.
5. Cough or sneeze into your elbow.

There is still time to get vaccinated

Those most at risk are encouraged to get vaccinated against flu and Covid-19.
Vaccination is recommended for:

1. people aged 65 and over;
2. people with chronic illnesses;
3. pregnant women;
4. people suffering from obesity;
5. people staying in a follow-up care facility or a medical-social establishment;
6. professionals in contact with these people;
7. the entourage of people at risk.

Doctors and midwives can vaccinate. Pharmacists and nurses can prescribe and administer vaccines from the age of 11.

Need Immediate Care? Don't Go Directly to the Emergency Room

Emergency services are intended to deal, as a priority, with life-threatening emergencies that require an immediate response in terms of medical care and resources. In this regard, to preserve these services as much as possible, here are the good reflexes to adopt:

1. First call your doctor or his replacement
   Depending on your state of health, he will give you the appropriate medical advice, schedule a home visit or refer you to an emergency service or organize the intervention of an appropriate team. If your doctor is not reachable, you can also ask your pharmacist for advice .
2. Find a consultation location without an appointment on the ARS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes website
   An interactive map listing care locations is available by clicking on the following link: On-call medicine and urgent care .
3. Call 15 (or 114 for deaf or hard of hearing people)
   Depending on your state of health, the professionals at the 15 and 114 centers determine and trigger the most appropriate response as quickly as possible: medical advice, referral to a medical on-call center or to an emergency facility and, if your condition requires it, an emergency vehicle.

Find all the information on the flu, prevention methods and the white plan on our website:
Flu: how to protect yourself against the virus?
Barrier gestures: adopt the right reflexes to protect yourself from infectious diseases
The white plan in health establishments

Also consult the Public Health France website:
National Bulletin Acute Respiratory Infections (flu, bronchiolitis, Covid-19) – Bulletin of 01/08
Regional health surveillance bulletin in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes – 9/01

https://www.auvergne-rhone-alpes.ar...-nous-proteger-et-proteger-les-autres-pensons


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Seasonal flu: given the active circulation of the epidemic, health authorities are calling for great vigilance to protect the most vulnerable people and those around them

published on 14.01.25

Health prevention press releases and press kits

Currently, seasonal flu is circulating intensely in the territory. All metropolitan regions, as well as Martinique and Guadeloupe, are placed in an epidemic state according to Public Health France . The Ministry of Health and Access to Healthcare reminds the most vulnerable people, including those aged 65 and over, and their entourage, that there is still time to get vaccinated until January 31, 2025. The application of barrier gestures to fight against the transmission of the virus and vaccination are simple and effective ways to prevent serious forms of influenza infections and Covid-19.


The 2024-25 influenza epidemic began early in mid-December, with a marked intensification of the circulation of influenza viruses around the time of the end-of-year holiday period.

At the beginning of January 2025, influenza activity was high in the hospital and in all age groups, indicating significant severity of the epidemic .

To date, this situation has resulted in a high demand on the health system. To date, around a hundred white plans have been activated across the country .

The characteristics of serious cases of influenza admitted to intensive care reported to Public Health France indicate that around 80% of them concern people who have not been vaccinated against influenza .

The Ministry of Health and Access to Healthcare calls for continued increased mobilization of citizens and healthcare professionals to vaccinate the most vulnerable people against seasonal flu , particularly people aged 65 and over, and those with comorbidities.

The authorities remind that it is possible to get vaccinated from a pharmacist, nurse, doctor or midwife. In addition, vaccination is also recommended for the entourage of vulnerable people, as well as for professionals in the medical and social sectors.

In addition to vaccination, simple actions can help combat the transmission of seasonal flu , Covid-19 and winter viruses, and must be adopted by everyone:

• Always wear a mask if you have symptoms (cough, fever, sore throat), but also on public transport, other busy places and healthcare facilities, if you are at risk of developing a serious form or in the presence of vulnerable people, whether you have symptoms or not.
• Ventilate your home regularly.
• Wash your hands frequently.

In order to support these last weeks of influenza circulation and to be able to vaccinate all those who wish to do so until the end of the vaccination campaign, the Ministry of Health and Access to Healthcare reminds that doses are still available in pharmacies throughout the country, and that additional doses may be made available to the French market if necessary, thanks to the mobilization of sector players .

More information:

For a winter without viruses - Ministry of Labor, Health, Solidarity and Families
Barrier gestures, simple reflexes to protect yourself and your loved ones against winter viruses - Ministry of Labor, Health, Solidarity and Families
Acute respiratory infections (influenza, bronchiolitis, COVID-19). Bulletin of January 8, 2025

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Press contact:
Directorate General of Health
presse-dgs@sante.gouv.fr
01 87 05 92 12​

https://sante.gouv.fr/actualites/pr...irculation-active-de-l-epidemie-les-autorites

 

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Emergency services still under pressure in Toulouse and Montauban due to the flu epidemic

Toulouse
Montauban
From Marion Chantreau
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 3:53 p.m.
By Ici Occitania

The flu epidemic, which has been very virulent since the beginning of winter in France, is still raging in the Toulouse region and in Tarn-et-Garonne. The white plans are active at the Toulouse University Hospital and the Montauban hospital. The Montauban emergency room had to suspend patient reception on Monday.

A first at the Montauban hospital center, Monday February 10, due to a high influx of patients infected with the flu in the emergency room, the hospital was forced to temporarily suspend admissions to the emergency room before reopening at 6 p.m. Only vital cases were treated.

The white plan is still active at the Toulouse University Hospital, this plan allows for the recall of caregivers as reinforcements during their leave time, the rescheduling of surgical procedures or examinations even if this was not necessary, the opening of beds in various departments. This Tuesday, the occupancy rate of adult emergencies in Purpan and Rangueil was 85% according to our information. Beds had to be reopened to accommodate patients and private clinics in Toulouse are also facing congestion in their emergency departments.

The flu epidemic is virulent this year and elderly people with serious respiratory illnesses need to be put on oxygen. Those aged 65 and over represent 67% of hospitalizations after going to the emergency room for the flu or flu-like illness. These are the people most at risk of potentially deadly complications.

Montauban hospital temporarily closed its emergency access on Monday

At Montauban hospital, the white plan has been in effect for a month. The emergency department of the hospital center is facing high tensions, due to a high number of patients against a backdrop of a flu epidemic and the unavailability of hospital beds. The hospital was forced to temporarily limit admissions to the emergency department this Monday , maintaining only the management of vital, pediatric and obstetric emergencies. It was able to admit patients again at 6 p.m.

Christel Quiris-Cariani, from the CGT health union at Montauban hospital, explains that five beds have been added, but there is a big shortage of medical and paramedical staff. " There are 70 beds missing that have closed. 40% of the staff are missing in the emergency room, we are dropping one after the other like flies. We have been denouncing this policy for years, it is not the Ségur de la Santé that has resolved things, bed closures are increasing in the departments and staff numbers are falling. Systematic regulation by the 15 center is sorting, and it has led to deaths."

"The situation could have been anticipated" according to the director of SAMU 31

According to Vincent Bounes, emergency physician, director of SAMU 31: " We expected it and it could have been anticipated. It is the inevitable result of health policies over the last ten years. We are seeing a scarcity of healthcare provision with fewer and fewer doctors and paramedical staff. Toulouse is the largest medical desert with almost 100,000 people in Toulouse who do not have a primary care physician. Hospitalization beds are closing in favor of outpatient medicine beds, which means that when elderly patients arrive and need to be hospitalized in conventional beds, the establishments no longer have any reserves."

It must be said that people no longer respect barrier gestures as much : " we have forgotten the common sense measures that we applied during the covid epidemic, we find ourselves with unvaccinated people and a fairly strong virus."

"We will have to slow down on the white plan, but the epidemic is still very present, we can feel it in the regulation of SAMU 31. But it is a little premature in some places to lift the white plan, the activity rates are high, the bed reserves are low. It is a calculation, because opening beds, making people work overtime, it is a cost, we are very constrained in terms of budget. We must invest in our health system, I am calling for a major Marshall plan for health, the Covid-19 epidemic has allowed a lull, but we have gone backwards."


https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/san...t-montauban-avec-l-epidemie-de-grippe-1015967

 

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Source: https://www.24matins.uk/flu-outbreak-in-france-most-affected-regions-revealed-322742

Flu Outbreak in France: Most Affected Regions Revealed
Health / Health / Flu
By Newsroom, published 30 November 2025 at 12h18, updated on 30 November 2025 at 12h18.​

As influenza spreads across France, several regions are experiencing particularly high infection rates. Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation as hospitals report an uptick in cases, highlighting the areas most severely affected by this seasonal outbreak.

A Surge in Flu Cases Across France

As temperatures drop, the familiar shadow of the flu is once again stretching across France. The most recent update from Santé publique France, published on November 26, notes that several regions—including Île-de-France, Normandy, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine—have officially entered the pre-epidemic stage. In the overseas department of Mayotte, an even higher alert level has been declared as flu cases tick upward, especially among children.​..