Flu Outbreak in Réunion

Data from the OSCOUR® surveillance network enabled the early detection of the flu epidemic currently affecting Réunion. In fact, since week 21, several consecutive statistical alerts have been generated. This trend has also been observed in private practice. In fact, since week 23, the estimated number of flu-like illnesses seen in consultations with sentinel physicians has continued to rise, although a slight decrease was observed in week 26 compared to the previous week. Nearly 8,000 consultations for flu-like illness are thus estimated for the week of June 24, 2013. Since the beginning of the year, 46 A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses, 50 non-H1N1 A viruses currently undergoing subtyping, and 34 influenza B viruses have been isolated by the virology laboratory at the CHU North Campus from random samples collected by sentinel physicians. In total, out of 243 samples collected, 54% tested positive. Since the beginning of the year, 6 people who developed severe forms of influenza have been admitted to intensive care. The last 4 confirmed cases of severe influenza in June (2 influenza A (H1N1)pdm09, 1 non-H1N1 influenza A, and 1 influenza B) had risk factors for complications and were unvaccinated. In these cases, the course of the illness was marked by the death of 2 people in week 26; one person remains under observation in intensive care, while the outcome was favorable for the last patient.