News

Bronchiolitis Situation in Metropolitan France. Situation in France as of 12/17/2013: The current epidemiological situation shows that the number of visits to hospital emergency departments for bronchiolitis in infants continues to rise in mainland France. While the outbreak is expected to peak in northern France during week 51, the southern region is expected to continue seeing an increase over the coming weeks.

Chikungunya virus on the island of St. Martin and in Martinique. Situation as of December 19, 2013: Local transmission of the Chikungunya virus has been detected on the island of St. Martin since the last week of November 2013. This is the first time this virus has been detected in the Americas-Caribbean region. The Antilles-Guyana Regional Health Agency (Cire Antilles-Guyane) and the Guadeloupe Regional Health Agency (ARS) immediately implemented epidemiological and microbiological surveillance. Data from this surveillance led to the declaration of an epidemic phase on December 6, in accordance with the surveillance, alert, and risk management program for the emergence of the Chikungunya virus. Furthermore, given the potential for the disease to be introduced and spread to Saint Barthélemy, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana, enhanced surveillance for Chikungunya cases was also implemented on these islands. On December 18, this surveillance detected two confirmed indigenous cases in Martinique and one case in French Guiana, imported from Martinique.