Highlights

• Since Week 40, influenza and influenza-like illness activity has been consistent with what is typically observed at this time of year in the emergency departments of the OSCOUR® network in Lorraine and among the SOS Médecins association in Meurthe-et-Moselle. In Week 48, 4 and 3 diagnoses were made by emergency department physicians and the association, respectively. Both nationally and across Europe, influenza activity remains low this week.

• No severe cases of influenza have been reported since the start of surveillance (week 45) by intensive care units in Lorraine.

• In Lorraine, the increase in bronchiolitis activity observed over the past 3 weeks in emergency departments and by the association’s physicians marks the start of the epidemic season. In week 48, emergency department physicians made 71 diagnoses of bronchiolitis, 28 (39%) of which required hospitalization. This activity accounts for 9.5% of all diagnoses in children under 2 years of age and is consistent with what was observed during the same period last year. Doctors from the SOS Médecins association in Meurthe-et-Moselle made 13 diagnoses of bronchiolitis, which accounts for 12.7% of all diagnoses in this age group. This increase in the number of bronchiolitis cases is being observed throughout mainland France.

• According to virological data from the Nancy University Hospital, the number of positive tests for respiratory viruses has been increasing since week 45. Two types of viruses are primarily detected: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza virus.

• In Lorraine, activity related to gastroenteritis in the emergency departments of the OSCOUR® network and within the SOS Médecins association in Meurthe-et-Moselle remains stable compared to previous years, despite observed weekly variations. With 107 diagnoses made in week 48, this activity accounted for 1% of all diagnoses in emergency departments. Doctors from the SOS Médecins association in Meurthe-et-Moselle made 44 diagnoses of gastroenteritis and diarrhea, accounting for 4.6% of all diagnoses.

• The number of positive test results for circulating enteric viruses remains stable according to data from the Nancy University Hospital. The viruses most frequently detected in recent weeks are adenovirus and norovirus.

• During weeks 47 and 48, three cases of carbon monoxide poisoning (suspected or confirmed) were reported in Lorraine, including two in Meurthe-et-Moselle and one in the Vosges (InVS data). These cases involved 14 people, six of whom were treated in the emergency room. No deaths occurred. Since the start of the heating season in Lorraine (October 1, 2015), there have been 11 incidents involving 44 people, with no deaths.

• According to available data, no unusual increase in mortality has been observed in Lorraine over the past few weeks. Since the time lag for reporting death data exceeds 7 days, data for week 48 are currently being consolidated.