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Surveillance of infections related to the novel coronavirus (MERS-CoV) As of November 12, 2013, the WHO’s report on the international situation indicates 153 cases of novel coronavirus infection (including 64 deaths) across 10 countries/emirates: Germany: 2 cases (1 death), Saudi Arabia: 127 cases (53 deaths), France: 2 cases (1 death), Italy: 1 case, Jordan: 2 cases (2 deaths), Qatar: 6 cases (2 deaths), United Kingdom: 4 cases (3 deaths), Tunisia: 3 cases (1 death), Oman: 1 case, and United Arab Emirates: 5 cases (1 death). In France, 463 reports of suspected MERS-CoV infections have been received, including 138 possible cases: only 2 have been confirmed by the CNR to date (including 1 death).In France, the High Council for Public Health (HCSP) updated a document on June 28 regarding the management and prevention of MERS-CoV infections, the coronavirus responsible for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). This advisory was supplemented on October 30, 2013, by a new advisory regarding the management of contacts of a confirmed case who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.

Launch of the third season of GrippeNet.fr Launched two years ago by the Sentinelles network team (a joint research unit of Inserm and Pierre and Marie Curie University) and the Institute for Health Surveillance, the GrippeNet.fr website returns for a third consecutive year. GrippeNet.fr complements traditional influenza surveillance systems, which rely on data collected from private practices and hospitals. This data enables research (at both the national and European levels) to better understand the flu: identifying risk factors, the role of age, the impact of vaccination, the spread of the disease across Europe, and more. The purpose of the GrippeNet.fr website is to allow anyone who wishes to do so—whether sick or healthy—and who resides in mainland France to participate in influenza surveillance, anonymously and voluntarily. Last year, GrippeNet.fr had over 6,000 participants.