Key Points

COVID-19

• The resurgence of the epidemic that began in S25 continues this week in Réunion. Indeed, all key indicators of viral circulation were on the rise:

  • the incidence rate was 334 cases per 100,000 residents,

  • the testing rate was 1,958 people tested per 100,000 inhabitants,

  • the positivity rate was 17%,

• At the same time, new hospitalizations rose slightly in Week 26. Admissions to intensive care and deaths continued to fluctuate at a low level.

• The Omicron variant still accounted for 100% of interpretable sequences. The BA.5 sublineage of the Omicron variant continued to gain ground in Réunion compared to the BA.2 sublineage.

Influenza

• Pre-epidemic phase

• In Week 26, the number of emergency department visits (n=20) for influenza-like illness remained stable. Although the epidemic threshold was exceeded, the public health impact remained limited, with only 2 hospitalizations following an emergency department visit and no admissions to intensive care. Virological surveillance in community practice via the sentinel physician network confirms the circulation of influenza A(H3N2) viruses, with a weekly average of 4 positive influenza samples since early June. Regarding hospital virological surveillance, there were an average of 15 positive samples per week, predominantly of type A(H3N2).

• Given the epidemiological context, Réunion remains in the pre-epidemic phase, as the health impact on the hospital system remains limited at this stage. If an increase in emergency department visits is observed next week, Réunion will move into the epidemic phase.