Key Points

Mortality: Following the increase in mortality observed during January, the decline continued in week 09 (currently being finalized), with observed figures close to expectations.

Emergency department visits by vulnerable populations: Emergency department activity has decreased significantly among children under 1 year of age and adults aged 75 and older, with figures close to expected levels.

Virology: The number of positive respiratory virus samples from the laboratories at the Bordeaux, Limoges, and Poitiers university hospitals decreased significantly from 119 to 67 in week 10. At the Poitiers University Hospital, of the 44 positive samples, the majority were Metapneumovirus (12 samples), Adenovirus (11 samples), and RSV (7 samples). At the Bordeaux University Hospital, of the 22 positive samples, the majority were for rhinovirus/enterovirus (7 samples) and RSV (5 samples). In Limoges, none of the respiratory samples tested were positive in week 10.

Gastroenteritis: Activity is stable according to SOS Médecins data and decreasing according to Oscour® data, with values below the alert thresholds for both data sources.

Bronchiolitis: End of the bronchiolitis epidemic. In Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the bronchiolitis epidemic lasted 11 weeks, from week 49 of 2016 to week 7 of 2017, with a moderate peak between weeks 51 and 52 of 2016, involving approximately 17% of emergency room visits and 12% of SOS Médecins calls among children under 2 years of age. During the epidemic period, an average of 48% of cases treated in emergency departments were hospitalized. This epidemic was marked by a sharp resurgence in activity in mid-January, thereby extending the duration of the epidemic until mid-February. RSV circulation was very active from week 52 of 2016 through week 5 of 2017, although a significant number of RSV cases were detected by the virology laboratory at Poitiers University Hospital until week 7.During the epidemic weeks, the AquiRespi network treated approximately 2,200 children, with a peak in activity during the on-call weekend of week 51. Nationally, the end of the epidemic was declared in all metropolitan regions.

Influenza and influenza-like illnesses: end of the epidemic for the NA region, with low influenza activity in hospital emergency departments and for SOS Médecins, with values below the alert thresholds. No new severe cases of influenza were reported in week 10-2017; the total number of severe influenza cases stands at 85 since November 1, 2016, including 17 deaths. No new clusters of acute respiratory infections (ARI) have been reported in long-term care facilities since the start of week 10-2017. Nationally, most indicators have returned to baseline levels, and influenza virus circulation remains low.

Reportable Diseases (MDO): no unusual events in the region during week 10 of 2017