Key Points

In Nouvelle-Aquitaine: the bronchiolitis outbreak continues to decline according to hospital emergency department data, though activity levels remain high.

The bronchiolitis outbreak, which began early in week 41 (October 11–17, 2021), has been ongoing for 12 weeks in the region. According to hospital emergency department data, bronchiolitis activity has been declining for the second consecutive week. Data from the SOS Médecins association show stable activity over the past week, with activity levels remaining high in the region.

In week 52 of 2021 (December 27, 2021, to January 2, 2022):

• 240 emergency department visits were recorded, representing 14.2% of activity among children under 2 years of age (compared to 15.6% in week 51), of which 107 were followed by hospitalization, representing 44.6% of bronchiolitis cases;

• The proportion of bronchiolitis cases among hospitalizations for children under 2 years of age is relatively stable (33.4% in Week 52 compared to 29.1% in Week 51); the majority involve children under 1 year of age;

• 75 SOS Médecins consultations were recorded, representing 8.1% of activity involving children under 2 years of age (compared to 7.5% in week 51);

• The proportion of positive respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tests is decreasing, but RSV circulation remains very active nationwide.

At the regional level, bronchiolitis activity is stabilizing or decreasing in all departments, except in Lot-et-Garonne and Pyrénées-Atlantiques, where an increase in activity was observed in week 52.