Should we Be Afraid of the Swine Flu in France ?

We should consider the swine flu more seriously than a cold since any flu is
always a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. Young children, pregnant
women and people with respiratory problems are more liable to be infected by
the flu influenza, especially when they have not been vaccinated against a new
virus that has just mutated.

Every year the regular flu kills 36,000 people in America, 40, 000 in Europe.

According to the World Health Organization, France is part of the countries with
confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) in the European region where about 261
people have already died.

Today, the new influenza virus is spreading in France with a few fatal cases but
the French government has already procured emergency laboratory supplies of
vaccines and masks. What is more, people caring for or exposed to infected
people have been encouraged to have their annual flu shot. In addition,
President Obama has just declared the swine flu a national emergency

Luc Chatel, the French education minister, is ready to close down all the schools
because of the swine flu. All information about healthy habits for flu prevention
was given to the principals in September to prevent the spread of the influenza. If
schools close, the pupils will be able to attend educational programs and study
on-line at home on France 5, Radio France and the internet.

However, the regular flu kills more than the swine flu, not only in the Southern
countries but also in Europe. So far, only 31 fatal cases of the swine flu have
been reported in France. Although the vaccination is the most effective flu
prevention, the regular flu viruses always develops resistance to the antiviral
medicines and vaccines.

The very young, the over 65 and the chronically ill are always the first victims
whatever the type of the influenza. The 11 month old baby who died from the
swine flu on 18 October already suffered from a serious congenital heart disease.

If vaccination is the only effective way to fight against any type of influenza, you
should always follow good hand hygiene and cover your mouth and nose when
coughing and sneezing, using a tissue, then throw it away as quick as possible, wash your
hands with soap and water and clean all hard surfaces with cleaning products, especially in
public areas.
The usual symptoms are sudden high fever, dry cough, headache, muscle and joint pain,
severe malaise, sore throat and running nose. In that case, you should contact a general
practitioner.
You may need a few very useful French expressions to give explanations to the doctor
J’ai de la fièvre : I have fever
Je tousse : I am coughing
C’est une toux sèche : it is a dry cough
J’ai mal à la tête : I have a headache
J’ai des coubatures : muscle and joint pain
Je ne me sens pas bien : I do not feel well
Je suis très fatigué : I am very tired
J’ai le nez qui coule : my nose is running
J’ai des frissons : I keep shivering

The H1N1 Flu is spreading in France

The French Health Services have noted a sudden increase of the number of people
consulting for the H1N1 flu in the Ile-de-France region but a lesser increase in the largest
cities.

H1N1 cases have increased steeply since last week: 76 patients

have already been into the hospital, 22 people are seriously ill and 4
patients died from 19 to 25 October in Metropolitan France.
So far, 5, 857 deaths have been reported in the world, especially in the Northern hemisphere in the United States
and Brazil with a sudden increase of over 1, 000 deaths reported on 26 October.
The French government said everything has been done to protect people against the swine flu since 94 million
vaccines are ready to be administered. The World Health Organization said on Friday that a single dose of H1N1
vaccine should be used to protect against H1N1.
However, the largest and best known pharmaceutical firms have been accused of influencing the health policy of
the French government since the H1N1 vaccine experts have received financial support from the pharmaceutical
industry. The 94 million vaccines in France cost 871 million Euros and the doses of H1N1 vaccines cost between
6.25 Euros a single dose (Sanofi-Pasteur Maker) to 10 Euros (Baxter Laboratory). The French Socialist Party
criticized the expensive mass vaccination campaign and the price disparities of the vaccines. Many influenza
vaccines may go unused since only 17% of the French intend to be vaccinated.
In addition, most hospitals are not ready to face a sudden increase in the number of H1N1 infected people due to
lack of beds and the school vacations in October may increase the H1N1 risks in the regions.