Back-to-School Season and Rise in Asthma Attacks Nationwide, in emergency departments participating in the Oscour® network, the increase in asthma-related visits among children under 15 continued in week 37 (+1,094 visits compared to week 36). This indicator also rose, though to a lesser extent, among adults aged 15–74. Similarly, visits recorded in week 37 by SOS Médecins asthma associations showed a sharp increase among children under 15 (+19 visits among those under 2, +201 visits among those aged 2–14). However, whether in hospital settings or private practice, the numbers observed are comparable to those seen during the same period in 2012 and 2013. Indeed, these increases are typically observed during the two weeks following the start of the school year. At the regional level, these trends were also observable in week 37 in hospital settings. Indeed, among children aged 2 to 14, visits for a diagnosis of asthma attack were up compared to the previous week, with 57 visits (0.2% to 0.6% of visits). In contrast, the estimated indicators for SOS Médecins 31 do not show any particular increase in this population, as they remain stable.

Update on the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa (September 17, 2014)As of September 17, 2014, a total of 4,985 cases and 2,461 deaths had been reported (observed case fatality rate of 47.5%) in the five affected countries in West Africa.