French hospitals are being stretched to capacity by a major flu epidemic sweeping the country. /CFP Photo

Thousands of mostly elderly people have been admitted to hospital due to a winter outbreak of a virulent strain of the virus known as H3N2. /CFP Photo

According to France’s health ministry, the rate of flu-like illness reported is estimated to be 395 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, which is more than double the epidemic threshold of 178 cases per 100,000. /CFP Photo