Key Points

COVID-19

• Viral circulation continues the downward trend that began in Week 17, with a sharp decrease in the incidence rate (-41%) and the positivity rate (-16%). At the same time, the number of new hospitalizations continues to decline. New admissions to intensive care and deaths continue to fluctuate at a low level.

• The Omicron variant still accounts for 100% of interpretable sequences, with the BA.2 sublineage being dominant. The BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages of the Omicron variant have been detected in Réunion.

Influenza

• In Réunion, the number of emergency department visits for influenza-like illness declined for the second consecutive week (n=5 in W20 vs. n=10 in W19), and only one hospitalization following a visit was recorded. Hospital virological surveillance had indicated since early April that influenza viruses were co-circulating (33 A(H3N2) and 2 A(H1N1)pdm09). In community practice, 6 A(H3N2) samples were identified in Week 20, for a total of 13 influenza viruses (12 A(H3N2) and 1 A(H1N1)pdm09) since early April. Réunion remains in the pre-epidemic phase.