Over the past week in the region:

After 9 weeks of the flu epidemic, the number of flu-like illnesses (SOS Médecins consultations and emergency room visits) continues to decline. In total, 137 cases of severe flu have been hospitalized in the region since early October, 61% of whom were aged 65 and older.

Among people aged 75 and older, there was also a significant decrease in emergency room visits last week. This decrease was accompanied by a drop in visits for acute lower respiratory infections.

In the region’s nursing homes, 18 new outbreaks of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) were reported in one week, bringing the total number of reported outbreaks since early September to 217. A decrease in ARI outbreaks has been observed since Week 5. The proportion of nursing homes that have had an ARI outbreak remains higher in Loire-Atlantique and lower in Mayenne.

In addition to the influenza virus, RSV circulation remains active, with a moderate persistence of bronchiolitis cases among infants under 2 years of age seen in the pediatric emergency departments of the two university hospitals.

Mortality in the region decreased in Week 5 for all age groups and among people aged 65 and older, compared to Week 4, when mortality was significantly higher than expected.