Key Points

Acute Respiratory Infections

• The 2025–2026 winter season in the Centre-Val de Loire region followed a pattern generally consistent with national trends, characterized by the circulation of respiratory viruses concentrated over a relatively short period and of moderate intensity.

Bronchiolitis (< 1 year)

• Among children under 1 year of age, the bronchiolitis outbreak during this winter season was slightly shorter (6 weeks vs. 7) and less intense than that of 2024–2025, with 1,923 emergency department visits (vs. 2,207) and 602 hospitalizations following emergency department visits (vs. 702).

Influenza, influenza-like illness

• The influenza epidemic was slightly shorter than during the 2024–2025 season (10 weeks versus 11) and less severe, with 5,090 emergency room visits, compared to 6,565 the previous season, 717 hospitalizations following a visit (vs. 864), 2,396 visits to SOS Médecins (vs. 3,916) and 138 deaths with influenza listed as a cause (vs. 168).

COVID-19

• COVID-19-related activity remained low during the winter season, with 588 emergency room visits (vs. 1,039 in 2024–2025) and 93 SOS Médecins calls (vs. 142).

Gastroenteritis and Acute Diarrhea

• In week 16, activity related to acute gastroenteritis was down in hospital emergency departments and at SOS Médecins. At the departmental level, activity in hospital emergency departments ranged from low to moderate depending on the department (low activity level at the regional level).
• Activity for acute diarrhea in primary care was down (Sentinelles).

Asthma

• In week 16, asthma-related activity among 2- to 14-year-olds was down in hospital emergency departments and at SOS Médecins. At the departmental level, activity observed in hospital emergency departments was moderate in nearly all departments (moderate activity level across the region).