Headlines

Summary of Heat Waves in the Summer of 2015As part of its public health monitoring, surveillance, and alert missions, the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance monitors various health indicators during heat waves, based on data provided by partners participating in the SurSaUD system (hospital emergency departments, SOS Médecins, INSEE). During the summer of 2015, three heat waves occurred in succession: - The first heat wave, from June 29 to July 8, primarily affected a large part of the northeastern quarter of the country; - The second heat wave, from July 13 to 23, which was less intense, primarily affected the southeastern quarter of the country.- The third heat wave, from August 5 to 9, was shorter in duration, less intense, and covered a smaller geographic area than the previous ones. The InVS monitored deaths in municipalities with computerized civil registry systems and estimated the total excess mortality in France based on this sample. Across France, during the period from June 29 to August 9, excess mortality was estimated at over 3,300 deaths (+6.5%). Only the first heatwave episode affected a department in Limousin: Corrèze. The estimated excess deaths for the Limousin region during this episode were 10% (36 deaths)