News

• Flu vaccination campaign continues through January 31, 2016: Health Insurance covers 100% of the cost of the vaccine for individuals targeted by the vaccination recommendations of the High Council for Public Health (p. 11 of the 2015 vaccination schedule). The HCSP recommends continuing vaccination campaigns for people aged 65 and older, as well as for healthcare workers.

• Zika: In recent weeks, the spread of the virus has expanded to 13 countries in Central and South America. Consequently, in mid-December, indigenous cases of Zika were detected in Martinique and French Guiana. Epidemiological and entomological investigations are underway in accordance with the surveillance plan activated in the overseas departments and territories (DFA).

• Avian Influenza: The surveillance system for cases exposed to avian influenza viruses in southwestern France has now been harmonized with the existing system for individuals returning from areas outside France affected by the A(H5N1) or A(H7N9) viruses.

• Ebola Update in West Africa: On December 29, 2015, the WHO declared the end of Ebola virus disease transmission in the Republic of Guinea. Sierra Leone was officially declared free of Ebola virus transmission on November 7, 2015. The InVS has amended the definition of a suspected case accordingly.