Flu Epidemic Has Passed Its Peak, but Remains Severe Nationwide, the number of outpatient visits for flu-like symptoms has been declining for the past two weeks. At its peak, the epidemic ranked as the 13th most severe in the last 30 years. In week 8, the national incidence rate was 750 per 100,000 visits for flu-like symptoms, representing more than 485,000 new cases in week 8 and 2,500,000 cases since the start of the epidemic. Older adults are the most severely affected by the flu epidemic. The number of hospitalizations continues to rise among people aged 65 and older, while it is decreasing in other age groups. There have been numerous outbreaks of acute respiratory infections in elderly care facilities this season, but these have been declining since Week 6. All-cause mortality continues to rise, primarily among people aged 65 and older. The proportion of deaths linked to the flu epidemic is not precisely known at this time. Increased mortality is also being observed in several European countries.At the regional level, the number of outpatient visits for flu-like symptoms has decreased, but the number of emergency department visits remains stable compared to the previous week, according to facilities participating in the Oscour® network. Since the start of surveillance, 56 severe cases hospitalized in intensive care have been reported to the Cire Midi-Pyrénées (3 cases hospitalized in week 8).