Summary

Nationwide, the increase in all-cause mortality observed since mid-December has continued for the fifth consecutive week (through Week 2 of 2017), 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 +12% in week 51 (December 19–25, 2016), at least 20% higher in week 52 (December 26, 2016, to January 1, 2017), and at least 28% higher in week 1 of 2017 (January 2–8).Over the first five weeks of the flu season, the number of excess deaths from all causes was estimated at 8,100 as of January 24, 2017 (data extrapolated for all of France).

Regionally, the increase in mortality primarily affected the eastern coastal regions, 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 +12% to 17% in the Normandy, Grand-Est, and Île-de-France regions, and of 18% to 23% in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, PACA, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes; - in week 52, in 10 regions (all except Centre, Corsica, and Pays de la Loire), with a more pronounced excess in the regions along the eastern coast (of at least +25% depending on the region); ,- in the first week of 2017, in 12 regions (all regions except Corsica), with an excess of at least +30% in the four regions along the eastern coast and Occitanie (exceeding 40% in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté).- during the second week of 2017, across all metropolitan regions.

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, and to a lesser extent in Spain and Greece.

Based on data from electronic certification, during the third week of 2017 (January 16–22, 2017), 1,468 deaths were recorded (Figure 4).