In its latest weekly report on acute respiratory infections, Santé Publique France notes “a decreasing use of care in all age groups, in town and in hospitals, with viral circulation still active”. Despite a decrease in the positivity rate, its level still remains above 10%. The cause is the circulation of influenza viruses A(H3N2) and A(H1N1) which persists in the population.
To avoid serious forms, in addition to barrier gestures, the vaccination campaign is extended until the end of the month for the most vulnerable people. At the national level, coverage reached 46.3% of the targeted population as of December 31, 2025. However, effectiveness remains moderate due to too great a difference between the K variant and its A(H3N2) strain. But what about the current circulation of the virus in the Grand Est?
17% of flu diagnoses at SOS Médecins
In community medicine, indicators are decreasing but remain at high levels. In the Great East, 17% of consultations with doctors from SOS Médecins associations resulted in a diagnosis of influenza/flu syndrome during the last week of January. This is the highest rate in France. The region is thus ahead of Martinique, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Hauts-de-France.
This share of flu diagnoses varies widely depending on the age of the patients: 13% among those aged 0 to 4, 21.6% among those aged 5 to 14, 18.2% among those aged 15 to 64 and 7.4% among those aged 65 and over. All age groups show a decline, except the 15 to 64 year old category. At the national level, “The positivity rate for influenza decreases compared to the previous week in community medicine (40.5% vs. 54%),” observes Santé Publique France.
A slight increase in hospital activity
Another observation in the region, hospital activity linked to influenza starts to rise again at the end of January after 3 consecutive weeks of decline. Thus, for every 10,000 emergency room visits recorded in the region’s hospitals, 357 directly concerned the flu. A level close to last year (361) but well above the levels of 2024 (331).
The share of hospitalizations for influenza increases
Last point to note, the share of hospitalizations for flu is increasing this week in the Grand Est. This proportion has passed from 3.1% between January 19 and 25 to 3.6% the week of January 26 to February 1. This increase is particularly visible among the youngest. Among 0 to 4 year olds, this proportion increased from 8.1% to 10.5% in the space of one week.
Since the beginning of October 2025, Santé Publique France estimates that among flu-related deaths, “94.6% concerned people aged 65 and over, 5.2% of people aged 15 to 64 and 0.2% of children under 15. »
