France urged to wear masks due to flu epidemic

French Health Minister Yannick Neuder urged the French to wear medical masks in connection with the flu epidemic. This was reported by the newspaper Le Figaro on Friday, January 10.

"We are in an epidemic situation and this is very important. During COVID-19 we had much less gastroenteritis and flu," he emphasized.

Neuder noted that the most important thing is to wear masks in public transportation, as well as to wash hands in a timely manner. The introduction of the obligation to wear masks, the politician mentioned, is not yet under consideration. However, Neuder noted, vaccination is being considered.

"Anything that can improve the conditions for receiving patients and ease the burden on medical staff - barrier gestures and possibly compulsory vaccination - should be considered. There should be no taboo on this topic," he stated.

Meanwhile, the British newspaper The Times noted that due to overcrowding in hospitals and delays in emergency departments in the UK, up to 50 people die per day.

Earlier, on January 10, it was reported that the first outbreak of the FMD virus in Germany since 1988 was recorded at a cattle farm with water buffalo in the town of Hönov in the Merkisch-Oderland region.

On January 7, it was reported that a person hospitalized with severe avian influenza (H5N1) died in the state of Louisiana. This is the first recorded case of a human death from the H5N1 virus. The 65-year-old man became infected after coming into contact with a flock of wild birds in the backyard of his home. It was noted that the patient had comorbidities.

On September 27, Russian virologists expressed fears that avian and swine flu can overcome the interspecies barrier, threatening humans. Experts emphasized that citizens can protect themselves from influenza viruses by timely vaccination.