News

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Several domestic incidents were reported this week to the Regional Health Agency (ARS) in the region, linked to defective appliances or improper practices. See recommendations on page 12.

Hospital Activity Monitoring (SRVA): Exceedances of expected patient volumes for children under 1 year of age were observed in several departments on 12/11/11. These statistical alerts are linked to increased activity due to the bronchiolitis epidemic. A few isolated instances of exceeding capacity were observed for total visits or the number of patients admitted that day, but patient numbers returned to baseline levels in the following days.

Monitoring of seasonal illnesses: - Bronchiolitis: The sharp increase in the number of cases presenting to emergency departments over the past two weeks reflects the spread of the epidemic in the region, while the peak was reached in week 48 of 2011 in France. - Influenza-like illnesses: flu activity remains low, but data from the Grog and Sentinelles networks show a slight increase in case numbers.- Gastroenteritis: data from the SOS Médecins associations in Nîmes and Perpignan report a gradual increase in activity related to this condition (reasons for calls and diagnoses made). These findings have not yet been confirmed by observational data from the regional Sentinelles network or by emergency department visits. Nationally, cases of gastroenteritis are on the rise, regardless of the data source considered.