News

• Allergies: Pollen is back in the region, particularly from cypress, alder, and birch trees.

• Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak in West Africa: According to the BHI report dated March 25, 2015, the WHO reports a total of 24,842 cases and 10,299 deaths in the three currently affected countries in West Africa (Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone). In Liberia, after three consecutive weeks without new cases, a new confirmed case has been reported. In Guinea, the number of new cases is increasing. In Sierra Leone, the number of new cases is stabilizing and is, for the first time, lower than that of Guinea. Transmission is primarily localized in Lower Guinea and in northwestern Sierra Leone.

• Winter mortality: a 19% increase in all-cause mortality compared to expected mortality—representing 1,206 additional deaths—was recorded in the Rhône-Alpes region between December 29, 2014, and March 15, 2015 (S01-S11). This phenomenon was observed across all regions and is trending downward according to the latest, still provisional, data.

• 2015 Vaccination Schedule: The 2015 vaccination schedule has just been published. The main updates concern the revised guidelines for managing one or more cases of invasive meningococcal disease or pertussis.