Month: February 2017

Although the peak of influenza infections has passed, the flu associated dangers are still present, the French public health service said on Wednesday.

So far, 14,300 deaths have been attributed to flu as a contributory factor, most occurring in patients with other underlying conditions.

The health service has reported that there has been a decrease in visits to the doctor for influenza-like illness, with 340 consultations per 100,000 inhabitants during the week of January 30 to February 5, compared with 429 the week before.

All regions of metropolitan France remain in “epidemic phase”, however.

The seasonal flu epidemic of seasonal influenza normally lasts for an average duration of nine weeks in France, according to historical data recorded since 1984. It sometimes lasts longer, as in the winter 2009-2010, when it lasted for over 16 weeks.

The vast majority of severe cases – 68 percent – involved patients aged 65 years and older. In the past week alone, 3,599 emergencies were linked to influenza, of which 625 required hospitalisation.

The “increase in all-cause mortality” observed since mid-December “concerns almost exclusively people aged 65 or more,” also notes the public agency.

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The eleventh annual working meeting of ACCOBAMS has taken place at the Novotel in Monaco. The Scientific Committee of the Agreement on the Conservation of Marine Mammals has the task of implementing the policy decisions stemming from the meeting of the national signatories of the accord in November, 2016.

Among the tasks for the coming year will be the mitigation of the impact of underwater noise generated by human activities. Work will also focus on carrying out a global inventory of marine mammals in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and identifying areas of particular importance for the conservation of whales, dolphins and porpoises.

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A Monaco policeman has been awarded one of France’s highest awards, the National Order of Merit, for his bravery while off duty almost three years ago.

Shopping for flowers for his mother at Conad, in Latte, just across the border from Menton, Johann Jorquera saw a man and a woman in a violent argument in the car park. When he intervened, he was attacked by the man and the two fell to the ground. Both had been bloodied in the fight.

When the carabinieri arrived, they informed Johann that his assailant was a well-known drug addict who was suffering from AIDS and Hepatitis C. At Princess Grace Hospital, he was told there was a 50-percent chance that he had been infected in the altercation.

Johann, a resident of Castellar who was born in Monaco, had to undergo debilitating medical treatment during which at times he slept 20 hours a day. Constantly vomiting and faint, he lost eleven kilos. There followed a long course of therapy to restore his immune system, but the verdict, when it came, was a huge relief. Johann was not HIV positive.

On receiving the award for his bravery from the French Ambassador to Monaco, Mme Marine de Carné-Trécesson, Johann said: “I am extremely proud today and I am very pleased. I am a policeman and it is normal that I render service. Being a police officer is 24 hours a day. It’s a state of mind, not a function. If I had closed my eyes, I would not have been able to sleep.”

Monaco’s Director of Public Security was also present at the Maison de France on Tuesday to pay tribute to the police officer. “The gesture of Johann Jorquera is a strong act which should serve as an example to all his colleagues.”

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A major construction project is about to start at one of Monaco’s busiest road junctions. From February 13, preliminary work will begin on the corner of boulevards Princesse Charlotte and Suisse in order to facilitate the excavation of a pedestrian tunnel to and from the railway station.

This ambitious project is intended to relieve congestion that pits pedestrians against traffic at the present exit to the station. The Sainte Devote bus stop in front of the Armida Palace will be moved about 20 metres onto the bridge, before returning to its present position after the end of the work, which is expected to last 22 months.

During this period, part of the sidewalk will be closed, while a number of parking places will also be lost. Some major work, including the installation of temporary construction site buildings, will take place at night.

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