What's going around in France?
Influenza: Low, COVID-19: Low, RSV: Low
Not many. Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV are all at low activity in France (as of 4 Oct 2026).
Data window: Week 40 · Sep 28 – Oct 4 · Source: ECDC (weekly) · Next update Fri, Oct 16
Current activity
Source: ECDC ERVISS, ECDC Data. Published weekly, about one week behind.
Frequently asked questions
How is overall respiratory-illness activity tracked in France?
Santé publique France publishes a weekly Bulletin infections respiratoires aiguës summarising flu, COVID-19, RSV, and other pathogens. The picture is built from SOS Médecins, OSCOUR, SIVIC, sentinel virology via Réseau Sentinelles and GROG, and variant analysis by the national reference centre. France also feeds into the ECDC ERVISS platform. On infectrisk.com we condense this into a qualitative low/moderate/high classification.
Did France experience a “tripledemic”?
“Tripledemic” is a media label for the simultaneous winter circulation of flu, COVID-19, and RSV, first widely discussed during the 2022–2023 season. France saw clear co-circulation of all three pathogens that winter, with substantial pressure on paediatric wards due to bronchiolitis and on adult critical care. Co-circulation has recurred each winter since, though the relative intensity of each pathogen varies.
Why do respiratory illnesses peak in a French winter?
The drivers are consistent across temperate regions. Many respiratory viruses remain stable longer in cold, dry indoor air, and heated buildings reduce humidity in ways that weaken airway defence. People mix indoors more during winter, schools amplify transmission among children, and end-of-year gatherings accelerate spread. Immunity to seasonal strains is also typically at its lowest just as exposure rises.
What is “immune debt”?
“Immune debt” describes the observation that, after prolonged low circulation of a pathogen — for instance during strict non-pharmaceutical measures in 2020 and 2021 — population-level immunity declines and subsequent waves can hit harder. French paediatric bronchiolitis seasons in 2021 and 2022 were unusually severe, consistent with this effect. It is a temporary catch-up phenomenon rather than a permanent immune change.
How does Santé publique France decide that activity is “high”?
Santé publique France uses thresholds derived from historical surveillance data. Current indicators — sentinel consultations, OSCOUR visits, SIVIC admissions, positivity rates — are compared against baselines from past non-epidemic weeks and against severe-season reference points. When several indicators cross into elevated ranges at the same time, the weekly bulletin flags activity as high, and France's ERVISS contribution uses the same framework for cross-country comparison.