Key Highlights

• In Week 10, all national indicators are declining (number of outpatient visits for flu-like symptoms, emergency department visits and hospitalizations, intensive care admissions, identified influenza viruses, etc.). Older adults continue to account for the majority of flu-related hospitalizations. (See the influenza epidemiological bulletin of March 11, 2015)

• For the two SOS Médecins associations in Alsace, activity related to influenza and influenza-like illnesses continued to decline in Week 10. These conditions still account for 9.7% of the Strasbourg association’s caseload and 11% of the Mulhouse association’s.

• After peaking in week 08, the number of influenza viruses isolated by the Strasbourg University Hospitals laboratory declined in week 09. During this week, 18.6% of respiratory specimens tested positive for influenza. The majority of the viruses identified were influenza A viruses (17 untyped influenza A, 5 influenza A H3N2, and 5 influenza A H1N1 pdm09).

• Since November 1, 2014, 52 severe cases of influenza have been reported to the CIRE. As of March 12, 2015, the clinical course has been favorable for 43 cases (83%); 2 cases (4%) remain hospitalized in intensive care; and 7 cases (13%) have died.