News

The flu epidemic threshold was crossed in early February. The Rhône-Alpes region is among those with the highest incidence rates to date. Since Week 6 (February 6–12), the number of flu-like illness diagnoses made by emergency departments and SOS Médecins continues to rise sharply.Since the implementation of surveillance for severe flu cases (November 1, 2011), 26 people have been admitted to intensive care in Rhône-Alpes, including 20 since Week 6. The proportion of emergency room visits by patients aged 75 and older has been increasing over the past two weeks.Furthermore, the number of clusters of Acute Respiratory Infections in nursing homes has increased significantly over the past two weeks. The outbreaks for which etiological testing was conducted are linked to influenza. The samples collected primarily detected the A(H3N2) virus, both in patients seen in private practice and in those hospitalized in intensive care or in nursing homes with influenza.