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Surveillance of infections related to the novel coronavirus (MERS-CoV) As of October 15, 2013, the WHO’s report on the international situation indicates 138 cases of novel coronavirus infection (including 60 deaths) across 9 countries/emirates: Germany: 2 cases (1 death), Saudi Arabia: 116 cases (49 deaths), France: 2 cases (1 death), Italy: 1 case, Jordan: 2 cases (2 deaths), Qatar: 3 cases (2 deaths), United Kingdom: 4 cases (3 deaths), Tunisia: 3 cases (1 death), and United Arab Emirates: 5 cases (1 death). In France, 290 reports of suspected NCoV infections, including 7 contacts of confirmed cases, 67 tested possible cases, and 1 untested possible case (for a total of 75 possible cases, of which 74 were tested): 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).

Surveillance of mushroom poisoning cases Between July 1 and October 6, 2013, the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS) recorded 546 cases of mushroom poisoning, including one severe case in an 18-month-old child requiring a liver transplant. Due to rainy weather conditions, these cases, recorded by the network of Poison Control and Toxicovigilance Centers (CAPTV), have been rising sharply in recent weeks (25 cases from September 9 to 15, compared to 177 cases from September 30 to October 6). This peak in poisoning cases has occurred earlier than in 2012. In most cases, these poisonings result from mistaking the mushrooms for other edible varieties. In Auvergne, 22 cases of poisoning have been reported since July 1.