Key Points

Mortality: The number of deaths (all ages and those aged 75 and older) recorded during week 49 of 2016 remains below expected levels for this period.

Emergency department visits by vulnerable populations: a sharp increase in activity among children under 1 year of age, above the alert threshold, linked to the onset of winter epidemics (notably bronchiolitis). Among those aged 75 and older, activity remains close to expected levels for this period.

Virology: Among the 104 samples testing positive for respiratory viruses from the laboratories at the Bordeaux and Poitiers university hospitals, the majority tested positive for rhinovirus/enterovirus (12 in Bordeaux and 18 in Poitiers). We also note the detection of 12 influenza A viruses (in Poitiers) and 23 respiratory syncytial viruses (6 in Bordeaux and 17 in Poitiers).

Gastroenteritis: activity on the rise, above the epidemic threshold for both data sources. The trend is the same at the national level.

Bronchiolitis: intensification of the epidemic in the region, with emergency department indicators (14.3% of visits) and SOS Médecins (9.2% of cases) exceeding alert thresholds for the second consecutive week. RSV circulation remains active, with 6 and 17 RSV cases detected in S50 by the virology laboratories at the Bordeaux and Poitiers University Hospitals, respectively. Activity in the AquiRespi network is also increasing, with 212 cases treated during the on-call shifts on December 17 and 18. Nationally, all metropolitan regions are in the epidemic phase.

Influenza and influenza-like illnesses: epidemic situation in the NA region with increasing influenza activity, particularly in hospital emergency departments and SOS Médecins, with values above the threshold. Nationally, influenza activity is on the rise, with a majority of influenza A(H3N2) viruses detected, and the epidemic has begun in 9 out of 13 regions

Reportable Diseases (MDO): no unusual events in the region during week 50.