Key Points

Mortality: Mortality rates are significantly higher than expected for the second consecutive week (as a reminder, an estimated 11% excess mortality in week 52), with an estimated 19.5% excess mortality in week 01-2017 (January 2–8, 2017). This excess particularly affects people aged 75 and older. Data for week 2 (January 9–15, 2017) are still incomplete; however, a decrease in the observed number of deaths is noted at both the national and regional levels, though figures remain significantly higher than expected.

Emergency department visits by vulnerable populations: activity among those aged 75 and older and those under 1 year of age remains high, above alert thresholds, particularly in connection with winter epidemics.

Virology: Among the 244 samples testing positive for respiratory viruses from the laboratories at the Bordeaux, Limoges, and Poitiers university hospitals, the majority tested positive for influenza A (25 in Bordeaux, 11 in Limoges, and 48 in Poitiers). We also note the detection of 47 rhinoviruses/enteroviruses (18 in Bordeaux, 2 in Limoges, and 27 in Poitiers) and 56 respiratory syncytial viruses (18 in Bordeaux, 8 in Limoges, and 30 in Poitiers).

Gastroenteritis: activity is declining according to Oscour® and SOS Médecins data, with values below the alert threshold.

Bronchiolitis: slight resurgence of epidemic activity. Following a decrease in emergency room visits and calls to SOS Médecins for bronchiolitis since the start of the year, week 03 saw an increase in emergency room visits (15.2% in W03 compared to 12.4% in W02), with activity remaining above the thresholds. Calls to SOS Médecins also increased slightly (7.3% in W03 compared to 6.2% in W02). This resurgence is often observed at this time of year and is generally short-lived. The proportion of bronchiolitis cases requiring hospitalization after an emergency department visit remained stable compared to the previous week (52%). Since Week 02, activity at AquiRespi has increased slightly, notably with 162 cases treated during the on-call period of January 21–22. RSV circulation remains active, with 18, 8, and 30 RSV cases detected in Week 03 by the virology laboratories at the Bordeaux, Limoges, and Poitiers university hospitals, respectively. Nationally, a very slight increase in the number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations, as well as SOS Médecins consultations, has also been observed. The Corsica and Normandy regions have entered the post-epidemic phase.

Influenza and influenza-like illnesses: epidemic situation for the NA region, with stable influenza activity in hospital emergency departments and increasing activity for SOS Médecins, with values above the thresholds. The proportion of hospitalizations following emergency room visits for influenza has decreased from 29.5% in Week 2 of 2017 to 25.5% in Week 3 (90% among those aged 65 and older). The number of severe influenza cases continues to rise (56 cases since November 1, 2016, with 7 deaths). The number of reported clusters of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in long-term care facilities has increased less sharply compared to Week 2 of 2017 (+24%, or 31 additional episodes since the start of Week 3 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 3-2017.