The Flu Outbreak Continues in Rhône-Alpes

The influenza epidemic threshold was crossed during week 5 (the week of January 30 to February 5). The incidence rate remains above the epidemic threshold but appears to have peaked during week 8 (the week of February 20 to 26).

The number of influenza-like illness diagnoses made by emergency departments and SOS Médecins is declining for Week 9 (February 27–March 4).

Since the implementation of surveillance for severe influenza cases (November 1, 2011), 57 people have been admitted to intensive care in the Rhône-Alpes region. These are primarily people aged 65 and older. The weekly number of hospitalizations for severe influenza cases in intensive care, which has been steadily increasing since the start of the epidemic, appears to be decreasing in week 9 (the week of February 27 to March 4). Please note that the data for weeks 8 and 9 are still provisional.

The proportion of emergency department visits by patients aged 75 and older has been declining over the past two weeks, while the total number of emergency department visits continues to rise.

Furthermore, the number of clustered cases of Acute Respiratory Infection in nursing homes also appears to have peaked in week 8 (the week of February 20–26) and decreased in week 9 (the week of February 27–March 4). The majority of outbreaks for which etiological testing was conducted are linked to influenza.

The samples collected primarily detected the A(H3N2) virus, both in patients seen in private practice and in those hospitalized in intensive care or in cases of influenza in nursing homes.