Key Points

Activity levels remain high despite a decline in indicators during week 45 of 2021. The bronchiolitis outbreak, which began early in week 41 (October 11–17, 2021), has been ongoing for five weeks in the region. Activity levels remain high despite a decline in indicators at emergency departments and SOS Médecins clinics.

In week 45 of 2021 (November 8–14, 2021), indicators showed a slight decline in the region, with:

• 90 SOS Médecins* consultations recorded, representing 8.0% of activity involving children under 2 years of age (compared to 10.4% in week 44);

• 191 emergency department visits recorded, representing 13.5% of activity among children under 2 years of age (compared to 14.8% in week 44), of which 80 were followed by hospitalization, representing 41.9% of bronchiolitis cases;

• The proportion of bronchiolitis cases among hospitalizations for children under 2 years of age is decreasing but remains high (30.5% in week 45 compared to 34.4% in week 44); nearly all hospitalizations for bronchiolitis involve children under 1 year of age;

• RSV circulation remains active across the country, with the number of positive RSV test results stabilizing.

* Data should be interpreted with caution due to a strike that has impacted the operations of SOS Médecins since week 39 of 2021.

At the regional level, indicators for bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age are slightly decreasing or stabilizing, depending on the department.