Key Findings

• Since surveillance began in week 40, activity related to influenza and influenza-like illnesses has remained low and below the epidemic threshold. In week 02, physicians in the OSCOUR® network and SOS Médecins associations made 13 and 57 diagnoses, respectively, which is consistent with previous weeks.Influenza activity is also low in other regions of mainland France.

• No severe cases of influenza were reported by the region’s intensive care units in week 02.

• Since the update on January 7, two new clusters of acute respiratory infections in elderly care facilities have been reported in Alsace. Six reports have been made since September 1, 2015

• Bronchiolitis activity among children under 2 years of age peaked in week 52 for the emergency departments of the OSCOUR® network and the SOS Médecins association. Since then, the epidemic has been declining in Alsace. In week 02, emergency departments and doctors from the SOS Médecins associations made 52 and 16 diagnoses of bronchiolitis, respectively. Among the diagnoses made in emergency departments, 36.5% required hospitalization. This condition accounts for 11.7% of emergency department activity among children under two years of age.

• According to the HUS virology laboratory, the number of respiratory viruses detected has remained stable compared to previous weeks, with two main viruses identified: enterovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

• The number of weekly diagnoses of gastroenteritis and diarrhea is generally stable compared to previous weeks. A total of 119 and 253 diagnoses were made, respectively, in the emergency departments of the OSCOUR® network and by doctors from the SOS Médecins associations. This activity is lower than that observed during the same period in previous years, based on data from the SOS Médecins association.

• Since the update on January 7, two new clusters of acute gastroenteritis cases in elderly care facilities have been reported in Alsace, bringing the total number of reports since September 1, 2015, to nine.

• Adenovirus was the only enteric virus detected by the HUS virology laboratory in week 02.

• During week 02, two episodes of carbon monoxide poisoning (suspected or confirmed) were reported in the Bas-Rhin department.