Key Points

Surveillance of Gastroenteritis

• Hospital activity related to the treatment of gastroenteritis is on the rise and remains higher than the figures observed during the same period in 2016. The increase is particularly pronounced among children under 5 years of age.

• Activity reported by SOS Médecins regarding gastroenteritis is generally declining despite some regular spikes. However, the level remains high.

• According to data from the virology laboratories at the Nancy and Strasbourg University Hospitals, rotavirus and norovirus are currently circulating in the region.

• Activity related to acute diarrhea is low for the Grand Est region within the Sentinelles network.

• Surveillance in elderly care facilities: 8 clusters of acute gastroenteritis cases have been reported since the February 23 update, for a total of 110 episodes since surveillance began on October 1, 2016.

Bronchiolitis Surveillance

• In week 08, bronchiolitis activity among children under 2 years of age decreased in both emergency departments and among SOS Médecins associations. However, the level of activity remains high.

• The Grand Est region remains in the epidemic phase. The bronchiolitis epidemic has begun to decline across much of the region.

• Virological data from the Nancy and Strasbourg university hospitals indicate that RSV continues to circulate in the region.

Influenza Surveillance

• In week 08, activity related to influenza and influenza-like illnesses continued to decline in both emergency departments and among SOS Médecins associations.

• The Grand Est region is no longer under an epidemic alert.

• According to available virological data, influenza virus circulation is now very low.

• Five new severe cases of influenza have been reported since the February 23 update.

• In long-term care facilities, two new clusters of acute respiratory infections have been reported since the update on February 23.

Mortality Surveillance

• As of February 28, 2017, the period of excess mortality observed in the Grand Est region since week 49 of 2016 is coming to an end.