Public health France draws up a first assessment on “excess dead” at the beginning of summer

Health – Between June 19 and July 6, 60 departments were struck by the first summer heat wave. If several deaths had already been announced in connection with this very strong period. Public Health France communicated this first assessment this Wednesday, July 23, far from being final.

According to the health authority, 480 more deaths than normal were found in France during this period, an increase of 5.5 public health france draws up %.

On the other hand. this first census must be supplemented by the estimation of mortality specifically “Assignable to heat”in a summer assessment which will only be carried out after September 15, specifies Public Health France.

According to this first assessment, “People aged 75 and over are almost all” excess mortality in all causes combined, or 410 deaths (+6.7%) out of 480 in the departments concerned by this “Episode of hot weather. remarkable for its duration and early character, on almost all of the territory”. The heat wave episode concerned almost three -quarters of the French population (74 %).

To achieve this calculation of excess mortality. Public Health France has mortality data all causes from the civil status offices and transmitted by INSEE, which are then compared to an expected figure of deaths based on the previous six years, excluding extreme events. Thus, the public health france draws up region where excess deaths were the most numerous is Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur (PACA) with at least 140 dead (+9.2 %) while three regions-Corsica, Hauts-de-France and Île-de-France-did not present excess death during the two weeks of heat wave.

70 % of summer deaths out of heat wave – Public health france draws up

Public Health France also publishes a map of excess deaths by departments. However. the organization warned, during a press point, that a significant increase in low -populated areas, if it relates to a small number of deaths, could prove to be not very significant.

These public health france draws up health impacts underline “The importance of implementing preventive measures to reduce the impact of heat. during heat waves but also throughout the summer”et “The need for a reinforced climate change adaptation strategy at national and territorial level”also underlines SPF. About 70 % of summer deaths due to heat. over the period 2014-2023, took place outside heat wave, according to a public health study France.