Key Points

• A heat wave unprecedented in terms of its early onset and duration affected the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region from May 25 to 30, 2026, with 4 departments under an orange alert (Deux-Sèvres, Charente, Charente-Maritime, and Gironde) and seven departments under a yellow alert (Corrèze, Dordogne, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Vienne, and Haute-Vienne). On May 31, 2026, the heat wave ended in the region.
• The use of emergency care for all causes (Oscour® hospital emergency rooms and SOS Médecins), across all age groups and among those aged 75 and older, remained within the usual fluctuations for the period.
• A sharp increase in SOS Médecins and hospital emergency room activity for the iCanicule indicator (including hyperthermia, dehydration, and hyponatremia) was observed during the alert period across all age groups.