Key Points

Mortality: The number of deaths, for all ages and those aged 75 and older, recorded during week 44 of 2016 remains close to expected levels for this period.

Emergency department visits by vulnerable populations: activity is down, close to expected levels for this period, for those aged 75 and older and those under 1 year of age.

Virology: Among the 31 positive samples for respiratory viruses from the laboratories at the Bordeaux and Poitiers university hospitals, the majority tested positive for rhinovirus (8 in Bordeaux and 9 in Poitiers). Two influenza A viruses (in Poitiers) and two respiratory syncytial viruses (1 in Bordeaux and 1 in Poitiers) were also detected.

Gastroenteritis: activity remains high, above the epidemic threshold for SOS Médecins consultations. Activity is stable, below the alert threshold, for emergency department visits. The trend is the same at the national level.

Bronchiolitis: stable activity in emergency departments, accounting for approximately 4% of visits by children under 2 years of age; a slight increase in SOS Médecins calls during week 45, though figures remain close to expected levels. Since early November, 1 to 2 RSV cases have been detected per week by the virology laboratories at the Bordeaux and Poitiers university hospitals. The AquiRespi network treated 85 children during the on-call period from November 11 to 13. Nationally, indicators have remained stable for the second consecutive week.

Influenza and influenza-like illnesses: a slight increase in influenza activity compared to the previous week, as observed nationally.

Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika – Enhanced Surveillance as of November 16, 2016: Since May 1, when enhanced surveillance began in the five departments of the former Aquitaine region colonized by Aedes albopictus, 192 suspected cases have been reported. Among these, 25 cases of dengue, 62 cases of Zika, and 1 dengue/Zika co-infection—all imported—have been confirmed. One case of Zika transmitted sexually has been confirmed. There are no cases of local vector-borne transmission.

Notifiable diseases (NDs): no unusual events in the region during week 45.