Key Points

Mortality: Mortality during week 29 (July 17–23, 2017) is comparable to expected levels for this period across all age groups. The trend is the same at the national level.

Emergency room visits by vulnerable populations: Emergency room activity among people aged 75 and older and those under 1 year of age remains close to expected levels, or even below them for this period.

Virology: The number of positive respiratory virus samples from the laboratories at the Bordeaux and Poitiers University Hospitals is increasing in week 30 (34 positive samples). At the Poitiers and Bordeaux University Hospitals, the majority were rhinovirus/enterovirus (7 and 11 samples, respectively). No samples were positive at the Limoges University Hospital. At the Bordeaux University Hospital, a high number of enterovirus meningitis cases has been observed over the past 4 weeks (12, 8, 10, and 12 positive samples in the last 4 weeks), as well as 1 positive sample at the Poitiers University Hospital, consistent with data from emergency departments and the national epidemic.

Reportable diseases: no cases of measles have been reported in the region since June 1. The increase in hepatitis A reports continues: 76% of cases are men, and 31% of cases are reported in Gironde. A cluster of cases linked to a common source (a meal at a restaurant) is currently under investigation in that department.

Allergies: Allergy activity observed by SOS Médecins remains stable in week 30 in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Current pollen levels (grasses, plantains, and nettles) pose a low to very low allergy risk in the region.

Chickenpox: Chickenpox activity, according to SOS Médecins data, is close to what is expected for this time of year.

Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika – Enhanced surveillance in Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Since May 1, the start of enhanced surveillance in the region’s departments colonized by Aedes albopictus (depts. 24, 33, 40, 47, and 64), 39 suspected cases have been reported. Among these, 3 cases of dengue and one case of Zika have been confirmed.

Heat-related illnesses: Activity remains at typical levels for this time of year in both networks (OSCOUR and SOS Médecins), in line with the drop in temperatures observed during week 30. No heat wave is forecast in Nouvelle-Aquitaine over the next 5 days, according to Météo France.