Key Points

Mortality: The observed numbers remain below the expected numbers for this period.

Emergency department visits by vulnerable populations: continued increase in emergency department activity among people aged 75 and older, with figures above those expected for this period; the three syndrome groups showing the strongest increase in week 17 of 2017 for this age group are nonspecific abdominal pain, arrhythmias and conduction disorders, and chest pain. Activity remains stable for children under 1 year of age.

Virology: The number of positive respiratory virus samples from the laboratories at the Bordeaux, Limoges, and Poitiers University Hospitals remained stable in week 17 (54 positive samples). At the Poitiers University Hospital, of the 31 positive samples, the majority were rhinovirus/enterovirus (12 samples) and adenovirus (6 samples). At the Bordeaux University Hospital, of the 20 positive samples, the majority were rhinovirus (12 samples) and adenovirus (6 samples). At the Limoges University Hospital, the 3 positive samples were rhinovirus/enterovirus

Gastroenteritis: activity remains stable or is declining according to SOS Médecins and Oscour® data, with values close to expected levels, below the alert thresholds for both data sources.

Notifiable diseases (NDs):

An increase in reported measles cases in the region since January 2017 confirms that the virus is actively circulating in several departments of the region (27 reported cases). Fifteen of these cases were reported in the Haute-Vienne department (87), with several cases among hospital staff (hospitals in Limoges and Saint-Junien)

Allergies: Following a sharp increase in allergy activity, SOS Médecins associations observed a decline in week 17. Note that grass pollen levels are very high, with a moderate to high risk, and oak pollen (with a moderate risk) is present throughout the region.

Chickenpox: Chickenpox activity at SOS Médecins is slightly up, though below expected seasonal levels. Moderate activity is reported nationally according to the sentinel network.