Key points

Bronchiolitis

Indicators showing a sharp increase; the region has entered the pre-epidemic phase.

• SOS Médecins: In week 03, the number of cases of bronchiolitis among children under 2 years of age was up 60% (n = 75 in W03 versus n = 47 in W02). Although case numbers were still low for the region, bronchiolitis accounted for 5% of SOS Médecins’ activity in this age group this week—marking a 1-point increase in the share of activity for the second consecutive week.

• Oscour®: In Week 03, the number of visits for bronchiolitis among children under 2 years of age increased by 80% compared to the previous week, representing an increase of 190 visits for the entire region (n = 427). The share of activity related to bronchiolitis jumped by 3.3 percentage points to reach 10.7% of emergency department activity in this age group, exceeding the epidemic threshold for the first time since monitoring began. More than 90% of visits for bronchiolitis involved infants under 1 year of age (60% of whom were under 6 months old). The number of visits followed by hospitalization also increased (+48 hospitalizations compared to the previous week).

Gastroenteritis

Increase in hospital surveillance indicators among children.

• SOS Médecins: In week 03, the number of medical procedures for gastroenteritis across all age groups was slightly down (-6%, with 958 procedures vs. 1,017 in week 02). Activity for gastroenteritis across all age groups was down, falling from 8.8% to 7.7% of procedures -> low activity level. Among children under 5 years of age, the number of medical visits for gastroenteritis was also slightly down (-9%, with 240 visits vs. 265 in Week 2) and accounted for 6.6% of activity in this age group (compared to 9.6% the previous week).

• Oscour®: In Week 03, the number of hospital emergency department visits for gastroenteritis across all age groups was up (+12%) compared to the previous week (570 visits vs. 510 in Week 02). This increase mainly involved children under 15 years of age. The share of gastroenteritis in total activity, across all age groups, was up and accounted for 1.3% of coded visits -> low activity level. The number of visits for gastroenteritis among children under 5 years of age was up compared to the previous week (353 visits vs. 318 in Week 02), and accounted for 4.8% of activity in this age group. The hospitalization rate for gastroenteritis was stable: 12% of visits for gastroenteritis across all age groups were followed by hospitalization (10% among children under 5).

• Sentinel Network: In week 03, the regional incidence rate of consultations for acute diarrhea was estimated at 58 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, 95% confidence interval: [32–84], stable compared to the consolidated incidence rate of the previous week.

  • In hospital emergency departments, there was an increase in surveillance indicators among children.

  • Visits to hospital emergency departments for gastroenteritis remained at a low level and below what is typically observed during this period.

Influenza

Surveillance indicators remained stable, with no active circulation of the influenza virus.

• Sentinelles Network: The incidence rate of consultations for acute respiratory infections within the Sentinelles network of general practitioners is estimated at 19 (95% CI [3–35]) (not shown)

• SOS Médecins: low activity level (n = 85 cases of influenza/influenza-like illness)

• Oscour®: low activity level with 58 emergency department visits for influenza/influenza-like illness

• Surveillance of severe influenza cases admitted to intensive care: since October 5, 2020, no severe influenza cases have been reported by the region’s sentinel intensive care network.

• Surveillance of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in long-term care facilities (EHPADs): since week 40, no confirmed cases of influenza have been identified.

• Virological surveillance: Nationwide, since Week 40

  • The Sentinelles en ville network collected 575 samples; 2 influenza B/Victoria viruses were detected.

  • The CNR identified 15 positive influenza samples out of 36,385 samples collected.