Key Points

Mortality: Following data consolidation, mortality is significantly higher than expected for the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in Week 52 (December 26, 2016, to January 1, 2017), with an estimated excess of 11% in deaths, particularly among people aged 75 and older. Data for Week 1 (January 2–8, 2017) are still incomplete; however, the observed number of deaths already exceeds that of Week 52 both nationally and in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

Emergency department visits by vulnerable populations: activity among those aged 75 and older remains high, above alert thresholds, particularly in connection with winter epidemics. A downward trend is observed for children under 1 year of age for the second consecutive week.

Virology: Among the 202 samples testing positive for respiratory viruses from the laboratories at the Bordeaux and Poitiers university hospitals, the majority tested positive for influenza A (24 in Bordeaux and 47 in Poitiers). We also note the detection of 25 rhinoviruses/enteroviruses (16 in Bordeaux and 9 in Poitiers) and 52 respiratory syncytial viruses (15 in Bordeaux and 37 in Poitiers).

Gastroenteritis: activity remains high based on data from Oscour® and SOS Médecins, with values above the alert threshold.

Bronchiolitis: the epidemic is subsiding. The number of emergency department visits has decreased for the second consecutive week, with 12.5% of visits involving children under 2 years of age in S02 compared to 14.5% in S01; however, bronchiolitis activity in emergency departments remains above the thresholds. Approximately 53% of cases seen in emergency departments were hospitalized. SOS Médecins activity related to bronchiolitis continues to decline (6.2% in Week 2 compared to 9.7% in Week 1). During the last on-call shift, the AquiRespi network treated 155 children. RSV circulation remains active, with 15 and 37 RSV cases detected in Week 2 by the virology laboratories at the Bordeaux and Poitiers University Hospitals, respectively. Nationally, the peak has been surpassed in all metropolitan regions; the Centre-Val-de-Loire, Occitanie, and Pays-de-la-Loire regions have entered the post-epidemic phase.

Influenza and influenza-like illnesses: epidemic situation in the NA region with increasing influenza activity in hospital emergency departments and among SOS Médecins, with values above the thresholds. The proportion of hospitalizations following emergency department visits for influenza has increased from 23.9% in Week 1 of 2017 to 29.5% in Week 2 (72% among those aged 65 and older). The number of severe flu cases continues to rise (48 cases since November 1, 2016, with 4 deaths). The number of reported clusters of respiratory infections in long-term care facilities has increased less sharply compared to Week 1 of 2017 (+43%, or 38 more episodes since the start of Week 2 of 2017). Nationally, the epidemic continues in all regions of mainland France, with numerous hospitalizations of people aged 65 and older following visits to emergency departments.

Reportable Diseases (MDO): no unusual events in the region during week 2-2017.