Key Points

Mortality: According to mortality data provided by INSEE, the observed number of deaths from all causes during week 18 (May 1–7, 2017) remains lower than expected for this period.

Emergency department visits by vulnerable populations: Emergency department activity among people aged 75 and older and those under 1 year of age is declining and remains close to what is expected for this period.

Virology: The number of positive respiratory virus samples from the laboratories at the Bordeaux, Limoges, and Poitiers University Hospitals decreased slightly in week 20 (34 positive samples). At the Poitiers University Hospital, of the 17 positive samples, the majority were for rhinovirus/enterovirus (7 samples). At the Bordeaux University Hospital, of the 14 positive samples, the majority were Parainfluenza (6 samples) and Rhinovirus/Enterovirus (4 samples). At the Limoges University Hospital, 3 samples were positive, 1 for RSV and 2 for HSV.

Gastroenteritis: Activity remains within expected ranges for this time of year according to SOS Médecins and Oscour® data.

Notifiable Diseases (ND): The number of reported measles cases has continued to rise since January 2017, indicating that the virus is circulating more widely in the region. More than half of these cases were reported in the Haute-Vienne department (87), with several cases among hospital staff.

Allergies: Allergy activity observed by SOS Médecins remains stable in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Across the region, the risk of grass pollen allergies is very high in the southern departments and high in all other departments.

Chickenpox: Chickenpox activity, according to SOS Médecins data, is stable, with rates below seasonal expectations.

Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika – Enhanced surveillance in Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Since May 1, when enhanced surveillance began in the region’s departments infested with Aedes albopictus, 17 suspected cases have been reported. Among them, 1 case of dengue has been confirmed.