Key Findings

• There has been an increase in all-cause mortality since week 49 of 2014. For people aged 85 and older, the increase began in week 01 of 2015.

• Emergency department activity has remained stable in Lorraine over the past two weeks.

• At the regional level, flu activity continues to rise, both in emergency departments and at the SOS Médecins association in Meurthe-et-Moselle. It is comparable to what was observed two years ago, during the 2012-2013 winter season. Nationally, the epidemic threshold has been crossed, marking the start of the epidemic, to be confirmed next week.

• Data from the virology department at Nancy University Hospital indicate that only type A viruses have been identified among the samples analyzed. Nationally and across Europe, the majority of subtyped viruses are A(H3N2) viruses. These influenza viruses are known to cause complications in at-risk individuals (see the InVS-National weekly influenza bulletin).

• There has been a resurgence in the number of severe influenza cases requiring intensive care (2 new cases in week 02, for a total of 10 cases). The virus is type A, but in 70% of cases, the subtype is unknown.

• Bronchiolitis activity among children under 2 years of age is declining in the region according to the indicators being monitored.

• The number of cases of acute gastroenteritis and diarrhea fluctuates within the ranges typically observed at this time of year.