Flu epidemic hits 100,000 in France

100,000 people have fallen victim to a virulent influenza epidemic in just one week. Thibault Saudubray, of the Sentinelas network, gave the alert this week, claiming that the virus has broken through the 169 cases per 100,000 inhabitants to classify as an epidemic. The cases were registered between December 31 2001 and January 6 2002. Those worst affected are, as usual, the elderly and those, who suffer from debilitating or chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cardiac and lung problems. Emilie ACQUITAINE PRAVDA.Ru Paris France