Epidemiological Situation

The southern hemisphere winter is setting in on Réunion and, as every year, is accompanied by a resurgence of flu-like illnesses. Since the end of May, the number of visits for flu-like symptoms to the island’s sentinel physicians and emergency departments has been rising. Furthermore, 13 patients have already been hospitalized in intensive care for the flu since the start of the year, two of whom have died. Similarly, the number of identified viruses is rising with the co-circulation of three virus types: B, A(H1N1)pdm09, and non-H1N1 A.As the seasonal flu epidemic begins and given the rise in the number of patients admitted to intensive care, it is important to remember that flu vaccination is the only way for vulnerable individuals to protect themselves against complications and severe forms of the disease.