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, as in the northwestern regions of France. After a period of stability observed in week 40, healthcare utilization (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 been reported by the virology laboratories at the Nantes and Angers University Hospitals over the past two weeks, amid continued circulation of rhinovirus.

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 41 and 42. The positivity rate remained at a relatively high level but showed a gradual decrease over the past few weeks (as a reminder, since July 1, only PCR-confirmed cases have been reported).

Influenza

• The Pays de la Loire region was not in a flu epidemic phase in Week 42, like the other regions of mainland France.

Invasive Meningococcal Infections

• The Pays de la Loire region, like the rest of France, has observed an increase in the incidence of invasive meningococcal infections, particularly of serogroup W, over the past few months, linked to the spread of a new variant. This situation calls for vigilance and underscores the importance of sending every meningococcal strain to the National Reference Center for Genotyping.