Key Points

Asthma and Nasopharyngitis

• A marked increase in healthcare utilization (SOS Médecins and emergency departments) for asthma attacks and nasopharyngitis among children under 15 years of age was observed in week 37 in the region, followed by overall stability. This increase in activity is frequently observed during this period and is likely linked to the circulation of rhinovirus. In week 40, SOS Médecins visits for nasopharyngitis and emergency room visits for asthma attacks began to decline.

Bronchiolitis

• An epidemic phase of bronchiolitis among children under 2 years of age has been ongoing in the region since week 41. Seeking of medical care (emergency department visits and SOS Médecins calls) for bronchiolitis among children under 2 years of age has continued to rise over the past two weeks, as has the number of hospitalizations. An increase in RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) isolates—the virus responsible for winter bronchiolitis outbreaks—has also been reported by the virology laboratories at the Nantes and Angers University Hospitals over the past two weeks.

Covid-19

• Seekings of medical care (SOS Médecins calls and emergency department visits) for suspected Covid-19, as well as the incidence rate, were declining in weeks 43 and 44. The positivity rate continued to decrease but remained at a relatively high level over the past few weeks (as a reminder, since July 1, only PCR-confirmed cases have been reported).

Flu

• The Pays de la Loire region was not in a flu epidemic phase in Week 44, like the other regions in mainland France.

Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika

• Since May 1, 2023, the start of the enhanced surveillance season for arboviruses, 84 imported cases (83 cases of dengue and 1 case of chikungunya) have been reported in the Pays de la Loire. The majority of dengue cases reported in the region were returning from the Caribbean, where a dengue epidemic is currently underway.