Headlines - End of Winter Epidemiological Surveillance

The arrival of spring gradually signals, with regional variations, the end of the epidemic activity of several diseases: influenza, bronchiolitis, acute gastroenteritis, carbon monoxide poisoning, and hypothermia. The corresponding surveillance systems, notably GROG, Sentinelles, and the InVS, are being scaled back but will continue to monitor sporadic events that may still occur.

Our weekly epidemiological update thus ceases to produce indicators related to winter illnesses. It nevertheless continues 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 includes monitoring of emergency room visits for allergies that may occur due to pollen or air pollutants.

The publication of this spring surveillance bulletin provides an opportunity, at the request of readers, to offer an improved presentation of the information, featuring:

• on the first page, a more concise overview of trends in various conditions, providing a quick, comprehensive view of the region’s epidemiological situation,

• an epidemiological interpretation of the indicators and conditions presented above each corresponding graph,

• a presentation of data by age group for indicators that require it,

• and a presentation of mortality data from the two preceding years.