Key Points

In Nouvelle-Aquitaine: post-epidemic phase with moderate activity levels

The transition to the post-epidemic phase was declared in the region in week 02-2022 following the decline in indicators observed since early December 2021. In week 03-2022, activity levels remain moderate, with emergency room visits for bronchiolitis remaining relatively stable over the past 3 weeks and a slight increase in SOS Médecins calls, alongside less active circulation of RSV in the region.

In week 03-2022 (January 17–23, 2022):

• 136 emergency department visits were recorded, representing 8.9% of activity among children under 2 years of age (compared to 8.7% in week 02), of which 60 were followed by hospitalization, representing 44.1% of bronchiolitis cases;

• bronchiolitis accounted for 20.0% of hospitalizations among children under 2 years of age (compared to 16.3% in week 02); the majority involved children under 1 year of age;

• 51 SOS Médecins consultations were recorded, representing 5.6% of activity involving children under 2 years of age (compared to 4.0% in week 02);

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) continues to be detected by university hospital virology laboratories, with the proportion of RSV-positive samples remaining stable.

At the regional level, emergency room visits for bronchiolitis remain moderate across all departments, though there has been an uptick in this activity in a few departments (Deux-Sèvres, Dordogne, and Landes).