Key Findings

• Since monitoring began in Week 40, activity related to influenza and influenza-like illnesses has remained low, but a recent upward trend has been observed. In Week 4 (January 25–31), physicians in the OSCOUR® network and SOS Médecins associations made 19 and 95 diagnoses, respectively. This increase in activity is affecting the entire country, and several regions have already reached the epidemic threshold.

• Since the update on January 21, no new clusters of acute respiratory infections (ARI) have been reported in elderly care facilities in Alsace. Six reports have been made since September 1, 2015.

• Bronchiolitis activity among children under 2 years of age peaked in week 52 for the OSCOUR® network’s emergency departments and the SOS Médecins association. Since then, the epidemic has generally been declining in Alsace, although weekly variations are noted. In week 4, emergency departments and doctors from the SOS Médecins associations made 49 and 20 diagnoses of bronchiolitis, respectively. Among the diagnoses made in emergency departments, 42% required hospitalization. This condition accounts for 10% of emergency department activity among children under two years of age.

• According to the HUS virology laboratory, the number of respiratory viruses detected remains stable compared to previous weeks, with two main viruses identified: rhinovirus/enterovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

• The number of weekly diagnoses of gastroenteritis and diarrhea is gradually increasing compared to previous weeks for the OSCOUR® network’s emergency departments: 136 diagnoses were made in week 4, representing 3% of emergency department visits. Activity, however, appears to have stabilized at a sustained level among doctors in the SOS Médecins associations, with 302 diagnoses in week 4. This activity is similar to that observed during the same period in previous years.

• Since the update on January 21, three new clusters of acute gastroenteritis cases in elderly care facilities have been reported in Alsace, bringing the total number of reports since September 1, 2015, to 12.

• Rotavirus was the most frequently identified enteric virus by the HUS virology laboratory in week 3.

• During week 4, an episode of carbon monoxide poisoning (suspected or confirmed) was reported in Alsace.

• The emerging Zika virus infection is discussed at the end of this epidemiological update.