Key Points

Surveillance of Gastroenteritis

• Hospital activity related to the treatment of gastroenteritis has been on a downward trend for the second consecutive week and has returned to the levels observed during the same period in 2016.

• Activity reported by SOS Médecins regarding gastroenteritis is generally decreasing despite some regular spikes. However, the current level remains comparable to that of the 2014–2015 season.

• According to data from the virology laboratories at the Nancy and Strasbourg university hospitals, rotavirus and norovirus are currently circulating in the region.

• Activity related to acute diarrhea is moderate for the Grand Est region within the Sentinelles network.

• Surveillance in elderly care facilities: 9 clusters of acute gastroenteritis cases have been reported since the March 2 update, for a total of 119 episodes since surveillance began on October 1, 2016.

Bronchiolitis Surveillance

• In week 10, bronchiolitis activity among children under 2 years of age remained stable in both emergency departments and among SOS Médecins associations compared to the previous week.

• The Grand Est region is no longer under an epidemic alert.

• Virological data from the Nancy and Strasbourg university hospitals indicate that RSV continues to circulate in the region.

Influenza Surveillance

• In week 10, influenza and influenza-like illness activity continued to decline in both emergency departments and among SOS Médecins associations.

• The Grand Est region is no longer under an epidemic alert.

• According to available virological data, influenza virus circulation is now very low.

• No new severe cases of influenza have been admitted to intensive care since the March 2 update.

• In long-term care facilities, 4 new clusters of acute respiratory infections have been reported since the March 2 update.

Mortality Surveillance

• As of March 14, 2017, the period of excess mortality observed in the Grand Est region since week 49 of 2016 is coming to an end.