Key points

Bronchiolitis

• In an epidemic phase for the 12th consecutive week. In week 51 of 2022, bronchiolitis activity—which, after several weeks of decline, remains at a high level—is stable in calls to SOS Médecins and in the region’s emergency departments. The weekly number of new hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among children under 2 years of age increased compared to the previous week (+20%), accounting for 31% of total hospitalizations among children under 2 years of age in week 51-2022. Activity in the two Bronchiolitis Networks, RB 59-62 and RB Picard, increased during the on-call weekend of December 24–25 compared to the previous weekend.

• From a virological perspective, the number of RSV isolates among patients hospitalized at the Lille University Hospital was decreasing compared to week 50-2022 (data from the Amiens University Hospital not available). The ongoing epidemic level of activity warrants the utmost vigilance and the continued adherence to hygiene measures.

Influenza

• Epidemic phase for the fourth consecutive week. In week 51 of 2022, influenza activity continued to rise in private practice, at SOS Médecins, and among general practitioners in the Sentinelles Network. Visits to emergency departments for influenza-like illness increased by 60% in week 51 of 2022 compared to the previous week (2,436 in W51 versus 1,518 in W50). The number of influenza viruses isolated from patients hospitalized at the Lille University Hospital was also on the rise in week 51 of 2022, with type A(H3N2) viruses being the most prevalent (data from the Amiens University Hospital not available for W51).

• The number of hospitalizations following visits to the emergency department for influenza-like illness nearly doubled in Week 51 (n=280) compared to the previous week (n=143); this primarily concerns people over 65 years of age, who account for 41% of hospitalizations following emergency department visits for influenza-like illness. The flu epidemic observed this fall is characterized by an unusually early onset, coupled with higher levels of hospital activity compared to previous seasons in terms of emergency department visits and hospitalizations. During this season, there has been an increase in the proportion of flu-like illness cases in emergency departments across all age groups.

Gastroenteritis

• Low activity. In week 51-2022, emergency department visits for acute gastroenteritis (AG) across all age groups remained stable in the region’s emergency departments and decreased at SOS Médecins clinics. The incidence of acute diarrhea estimated by the Sentinelles network showed a slight increase last week. In week 51 of 2022, no enteric viruses were isolated in patients hospitalized at the Lille University Hospital (data from the Amiens University Hospital not available).