Key Points

Surveillance of Gastroenteritis

• Hospital activity related to the treatment of gastroenteritis has fluctuated over the past several weeks but remains higher than the levels observed during the same period in 2016.

• During Week 06 (February 6–12, 2017), activity among SOS Médecins associations in the region showed a slight increase for this condition.

• The Sentinelles network continues to report high activity levels.

• Surveillance in elderly care facilities: Three clusters of acute gastroenteritis cases have been reported since the February 2 update, bringing the total to 102 episodes since surveillance began on October 1, 2016.

• According to data from the virology laboratories of the Grand Est university hospitals, rotavirus is the predominant enteric virus circulating in the region.

Bronchiolitis Surveillance

• In week 06, bronchiolitis activity among children under 2 years of age decreased both in emergency departments and among SOS Médecins associations.

• The Grand Est region remains in the epidemic phase, along with three other metropolitan regions. The bronchiolitis epidemic has begun to decline across much of the region.

• Virological data from the University Hospitals of Nancy and Strasbourg indicate that the circulation of respiratory syncytial virus continues to decline in the region.

Influenza Surveillance

• In week 06, activity related to influenza and influenza-like illnesses decreased in both emergency departments and among SOS Médecins associations.

• The Grand Est region remains in the epidemic phase

• Type A virus remains the predominant strain in circulation.

• No new severe cases of influenza have been reported since the update on February 9.

Mortality Surveillance

• According to data available as of February 14, 2017, the episode of excess mortality observed in the Grand Est region continues for the ninth consecutive week. After two weeks of a downward trend (weeks 3 and 4), a slight increase in deaths was observed in week 5 (January 30 to February 5).