Key Points

Mortality: Mortality has been significantly higher than expected since week 52 of 2016, with an estimated excess mortality of 20.4% in week 03 of 2017 (January 16–22), remaining stable compared to the previous week (20.8% estimated excess mortality in week 02 following data consolidation). This excess is particularly evident among people aged 75 and older. Data for Week 4 (January 23–29) are still incomplete; however, we note a continued decline in the observed number of deaths at both the national and regional levels.

Emergency department visits by vulnerable populations: activity among those aged 75 and older and those under 1 year of age is decreasing but remains high, above alert thresholds, particularly in connection with winter epidemics.

Virology: Among the 249 samples testing positive for respiratory viruses from the laboratories at the Bordeaux, Limoges, and Poitiers university hospitals, the majority tested positive for influenza A (36 in Bordeaux, 8 in Limoges, and 35 in Poitiers). We also note the detection of 31 rhinoviruses/enteroviruses (15 in Bordeaux, 2 in Limoges, and 14 in Poitiers) and 71 respiratory syncytial viruses (33 in Bordeaux, 5 in Limoges, and 33 in Poitiers).

Gastroenteritis: Activity is declining according to data from SOS Médecins and Oscour®, with values remaining above the alert threshold for the latter data source.

Bronchiolitis: the bronchiolitis epidemic is in its waning phase. The number of emergency room visits and SOS Médecins cases for bronchiolitis is down compared to the previous week (13.4% of emergency room visits and 6.1% of SOS Médecins cases among children under 2 years of age). Approximately half of bronchiolitis cases were hospitalized after an emergency department visit (53%). The number of cases managed by the AquiRespi network also decreased this week, with 139 cases managed during the last shift. However, RSV circulation remains active, with 33, 5, and 33 RSV cases detected in S05 by the virology laboratories at the Bordeaux, Limoges, and Poitiers university hospitals, respectively. Nationally, the decline in the number of emergency department visits and SOS Médecins consultations for bronchiolitis continues.

Influenza and influenza-like illnesses: epidemic situation in the NA region, with declining influenza activity in hospital emergency departments and for SOS Médecins, though values remain above thresholds. The proportion of hospitalizations following emergency department visits for influenza is trending downward (24.7% in Week 04-2017 to 24.2% in Week 05; 56.5% among those aged 65 and older). The number of severe influenza cases continues to rise (72 cases since November 1, 2016, with 12 deaths). Twenty clusters of acute respiratory infections (ARI) have been reported in long-term care facilities since the start of week 05-2017 (compared to 15 clusters the previous week), bringing the total number of reported clusters to 193; the number of deaths reported following these clusters is 60. Nationally, the epidemic is in a downward phase in all regions of mainland France, both in terms of hospitalizations of people aged 65 and older following visits to emergency departments and in terms of SOS Médecins activity.

Reportable Diseases (MDO): no unusual events in the region during week 05-2017.