Focus on All-Cause Mortality Monitoring: Every winter, mortality rates are higher than during the rest of the year. Since the beginning of 2015 (weeks 1 through 8) in France, winter mortality has been 17% higher than the expected mortality rate calculated based on the off-season periods (spring and fall) of the previous eight years (source: INSEE data —70% of national mortality). This increase in mortality particularly affects people aged 65 and older and is observed across all regions. In Midi-Pyrénées, the excess mortality estimated on the same basis since early 2015 is 20%, slightly higher than that of the previous 8 years. In 2015, this ranks the region 9th among metropolitan regions. These estimates are provisional due to the usual delays in data transmission. Influenza is known to contribute significantly to excess mortality each year among older adults, though it is not possible to specify its exact share in the excess observed this season.

Blue March: Colorectal Cancer Screening Each year, colorectal cancer affects more than 42,000 new people in France—23,200 men and 18,900 women—mostly people over the age of 50. It is the third most common cancer but also the second deadliest, with more than 17,500 deaths per year. Yet, when detected early, it is curable in 9 out of 10 cases. This paradox serves as a reminder of the severity of this cancer, which affects both women and men, and the importance of early detection. 2015 marks a significant breakthrough in colorectal cancer screening. Starting this spring, a new screening test will be offered to people aged 50 to 74. Easier to use and even more effective, this test will encourage participation in screening, which remains far too low.