At a Glance

• The 2016–2017 flu season began early. In Occitanie, it lasted 9 weeks, from mid-December to mid-February.

• The near-exclusive circulation of the A(H3N2) virus led to a moderately severe outbreak in outpatient settings but was particularly severe among older adults, who are highly vulnerable to this viral strain, with vaccine efficacy being particularly low this year. According to data from the CNAM-TS, 49.6% of people aged 65 and older were vaccinated against the flu.

• In Occitanie, an estimated 177,000 people (3% of the population) consulted a general practitioner for influenza or flu-like symptoms.

• The impact on older adults was significant. People aged 65 and older accounted for more than 60% of the 134 severe flu cases reported by intensive care units in the Occitanie region; 148 clusters of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in nursing homes for dependent elderly people (Ehpad) were reported in the Occitanie region (vs. 29 in 2015–2016).

• Each year, excess mortality is observed during the winter months, varying in severity depending on the influenza viruses in circulation. The winter of 2016–2017 was marked by significant excess mortality, with 2,300 excess deaths in Occitanie.