Summary

Nationwide, the increase in all-cause mortality observed since mid-December has continued for the fourth consecutive week, across all age groups and more specifically among people aged 65 and older (Figures 1–3).Nationally, the observed number of deaths across all age groups exceeded the expected number by at least +10% in week 51 (December 19–25, 2016) and by at least +18% in week 52 (December 26, 2016–January 1, 2017).

Regionally, the increase in mortality primarily affected the regions along the eastern coast, Normandy, and the Île-de-France region in week 51, before spreading to nearly the entire country during weeks 52 of 2016 and 1 of 2017. Thus, a significantly higher number of observed deaths than expected was noted: - in week 51, in 6 regions, with an excess of at least +12% to 15% in the Normandy, Grand-Est, and Île-de-France regions, and of at least 16% to 22% in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, PACA, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes; - in week 52, in 10 regions (Grand-Est, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, PACA, Île-de-France, Occitanie, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Brittany, Normandy, and Hauts-de-France), with a more pronounced excess in the regions along the eastern coast (of at least +25% in these regions),- in the first week of 2017, in 11 regions (all regions except Centre and Corsica).

Since mortality data have not yet been consolidated due to the usual reporting delays, these observations constitute initial estimates, both at the national and regional levels, which will evolve as consolidation proceeds.

At the European level, among the countries participating in the EuroMomo network (www.euromomo.eu), an increase in mortality is also observed in Portugal and Italy.

According to data from electronic certification, during the second week of 2017 (January 9–15, 2017), 1,709 deaths were recorded (Figure 4).