Analysis of the Epidemiological Situation

The seasonal influenza epidemic has ended throughout French Guiana. It lasted 13 weeks, from the last week of December 2017 to the third week of March 2018. A total of 7,990 consultations for influenza-like illness were estimated during this period based on data from the sentinel physician network and the CDPS.The impact of this epidemic was low to moderate on the CHAR emergency department and more significant on the CHK emergency department and GMC activity. During this epidemic, influenza A and B viruses and RSV types A and B were identified. The most frequently isolated virus was the Yamagata lineage of type B. In total, 3 severe cases of influenza were admitted to the CHAR intensive care unit, 1 of whom died. The 2017–2018 influenza epidemic was shorter than the previous epidemic, which lasted 23 weeks. The average weekly number of consultations for influenza-like illness was higher during this epidemic than during the 2016–2017 season, with an estimated 615 consultations versus 440.