Over the past week in the region:

Moderate spread of the flu epidemic in the region, though with a significant impact in nursing homes and emergency departments. This outbreak is caused by an influenza virus of subtype A(H3N2). A sharp increase in emergency department visits by people aged 75 and older, particularly for acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTI), has been observed over the past three weeks. These ALRTI-related visits frequently lead to hospitalization (63% of visits in week 01). This outbreak is causing significant disruptions in healthcare operations: major hospitals have activated their "hospital under strain" protocols to cope with this surge in activity. Fifty-one cases of severe influenza have been hospitalized in the region’s intensive care units, 69% of whom are aged 65 and older.In the region’s long-term care facilities (LTCFs), 39 new influenza outbreaks have been reported over the past week, bringing the total number of outbreaks since early September to 116. LTCFs were reminded of the importance of implementing early containment measures during a flu outbreak.Mortality rates observed in the region during week 51 of 2016 do not show any excess, as is already the case in regions where the epidemic began approximately two weeks earlier. Furthermore, the bronchiolitis outbreak among children under 2 years of age is subsiding.