Headlines - End of Winter Surveillance and Start of the Spring Season

The arrival of spring gradually signals, with regional variations, the end of epidemic activity for several conditions: influenza, bronchiolitis, acute gastroenteritis, carbon monoxide poisoning, and hypothermia. The corresponding epidemiological surveillance systems, notably GROG, Sentinelles, and the InVS, are being scaled back but will continue to monitor sporadic events that may still occur. The end of the influenza epidemic was confirmed in week 14 of 2013. Beginning in week 51 of 2012, it peaked in week 6 of 2013. This flu season was marked by a moderately intense epidemic of exceptional duration, dominated by the circulation of three viruses—B, A(H1N1) pdm09, and A(H3N2)—without any particular severity. Surveillance of winter illnesses will be the subject of a special Health Surveillance Bulletin to be published by the Cire next fall, presenting an epidemiological summary of the 2012–2013 season. Our weekly epidemiological update thus ceases production of indicators related to winter illnesses. It will, however, continue to provide information on gastroenteritis, which may still have an impact in the spring or summer due to microorganisms other than those circulating during the winter. It will also include surveillance of emergency department visits for asthma and allergies that may occur as a result of pollen or air pollutants.