Summary

Following an increase in mortality during the first two weeks of 2015, mortality recorded by vital statistics offices appears to have decreased slightly during week 3 (January 12–18) (Figures 1 and 2). The number of deaths during this week remains significantly higher than expected. The increase in mortality is observed primarily among people aged 85 and older (Figure 3). The slight decrease in Week 3 is observed in nearly half of the metropolitan regions, while mortality is stable or rising in the Midi-Pyrénées, Auvergne, Champagne-Ardenne, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Poitou-Charentes, Basse-Normandie, Île-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Rhône-Alpes. The increase in the number of deaths certified electronically continued in Week 3 (January 12–18) with 769 deaths recorded (Figure 4).