Situation in the Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy regions

Surveillance of severe influenza cases (source: network of 24 Lower and Upper Normandy intensive care, critical care, and continuous care units for adults and children)

Since week 2011-44, 10 severe cases of influenza have been reported to Cire Normandie (7 in Upper Normandy and 3 in Lower Normandy). Among these cases, there were 9 adult cases and 1 pediatric case. Among the adult cases, 3 have died. Virological analyses identified 1 case of influenza A(H1N1)2009 and 5 cases of influenza A(H3N2). The subtype of the strain responsible for the other 4 cases is unknown (not tested or awaiting results).

Unified Network of Sentinel Physicians and Grog of Lower Normandy

The influenza incidence rate stabilized in week 2012-11 (324 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in week 2012-11 compared to 326 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in week 2012-10).

Virology data (source: Caen University Hospital laboratory)

In week 2012-11, 27% of samples tested positive for influenza (33 out of 127 samples analyzed), an increase compared to previous weeks.

Activity in the emergency departments of Lower and Upper Normandy participating in the Oscour® network and the SOS Médecins associations in Caen, Cherbourg, and Rouen

In week 2012-11, the proportion of diagnoses coded as "influenza" accounted for 0.48% of emergency department activity, compared to 0.94% in week 2012-10. In week 2012-11, cases related to influenza accounted for 13.1% of SOS Médecins activity, compared to 10.8% in week 2012-10: the number and proportion of influenza diagnoses continued to rise.

Clustered cases of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in nursing homes

In total, 18 clusters of ARI in nursing homes have been reported to the Cire Normandie since February 12, 2012 (7 in Upper Normandy and 11 in Lower Normandy).

In week 2012-11, certain indicators suggest that the flu epidemic is continuing in Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy. However, flu activity measured by emergency departments participating in the Oscour® network shows a decrease this week, following the general trend observed at the national level. Analysis of data from week 2012-12 will help determine whether this initial decline and its spread across all indicators is confirmed.