8th of January

 the number of GP consultations for swine influensa symptoms has been sharply decreasing in the last few weeks and is now just above the epidemic threshold.

 24 people are still receiving intensive medical care although the number of emergency cases is in decline. The decrease of the epidemy concerns all the French regions and all the age groups.

 Out of the 224 victims so far, 35 didn’t belong to a risk group.

16th of December

 France is one of the only countries in West Europe where the epidemy hasn’t decreased yet.
 During week 46 (November 30 - December 6) the virus propagation continues to remain important in France. Medical consultations have increased according to Sentinelles Network. Hospitals have reported fewer but tougher urgency cases.
 The number of casualties has been increasing since week 45. In metropolitan France the death toll is 145. Among those 20 people didn’t belong to any risk group. Out of the 743 serious cases reported since the outbreak of the epidemy, 211 are still receiving intensive care in french hospitals.
 A second resistance case to Tamiflu has been reported.
 In overseas department, the epidemy is considered to be finished.

30th of Novembre:

 During week 47 (November 16-22) the virus has continued to spread. According to the SOS médecins network, children from 5 to 14 are the most affected.

 The number of serious cases has steadily increased since week 42. During W47, 43 serious cases have been reported bringing the total to 357 since the beginning of the epidemic
 Similarly, fatalities are on the rise. 14 have occurred in W47 and 68 since the virus broke out. Among those 68, 6 involved people without any known health problems.
 A first case of resistance to TAMIFLU® has been revealed in metropolitan France.

 In overseas departments (Antille, Guyane, Réunion, Mayotte), the epidemic is either over or sharply decreasing.

9th of November: General vaccination should start on thursday in France. A priority list has been defined and vaccination should concern in the first place people with breathing troubles, employees of kindergarten and family circles of children under 6 months.

1060 vaccination centers will be opened and 4 million doses of GlaxoSmith Kline vaccine will be available.

Vaccination has been offered to health employees since October 20th. However only 10% of them got vaccinated. French Health Minister, Roselyne Bachelot, said these figures were "encouraging" albeit "insufficient"

Although medical consultations have increased by 55% last week in Paris area, only 17% of the French consider being vaccinated, the last polls show.

26th of october: Football crunch between Paris and Marseille was cancelled yesterday because of 3 cases of swine flu in Paris team. This is the third time a major sport event is cancelled: in septembre, 2 rugby games of Castres had to be reschedule.

According to a poll published yesterday 16% of French people are concerned by the swine flu and 17% consider being vaccinated

8th of October: The pandemy is slowing down in France. Possible explanations are the nice weather, the efficiency of the measures taken or the virus evolution. Last week 8 people have been hospitalized.

1st of October: The pandemy is stabilized although it could soon reappear, officials said. So far, out of the 174 people hospitalized, 158 healed, 6 died and 10 are still at the hospital, 5 of them still receiving intensive care.

29th September: European authorities have authorized two vaccines. France has ordered 50 millions to GSK, 24 millions to Novartis (one third as an option) and 56 millions to Sanofi-Aventis (half of it as an option).

16th September: Greek authorities reported the death of a 29 yaers old French tourist in Athens. He is the second victim who was in good health before contracting the disease.

15th September: Since the beginning of the pandemic 22 French people died. Among them 17 died in the overseas departments.

14th September: a 26 years old patient died in Saint Etienne. He is the first French victim without any previous known diseases.

13th September: Vaccination in France should start in October officials said. It is up to each department to draft a vaccination plan.

12th Septebmer: It is estimated that 3 000 people are affected by the virus each week in France. The current Alert Level is 5/6 but il will raise to its maximum should 70 cases per 100 000 inhabitants be observed.

27th August: "Vaccination is not compulsory", Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said.

Official Websites and Documents from the French Authorities:

INPES Website (In English).

Advice for travellers flying to France, click here

Click here to view how to limit the risks of contamination