Summary

Nationwide, the observed number of deaths from all causes during Week 11 (March 12–18) appears to be declining, after peaking in Week 10 (March 5–11) (Figure 1). People aged 65 and older are the most affected by this second surge in mortality. At the peak, the number of deaths across all age groups and among people aged 65 and older reached a level equivalent to that of the first winter mortality peak in Week 1 (January 1–7) (Figure 2).At the regional level, the increase in mortality (between weeks 8 and 11) is observed in nearly all regions and is more pronounced in the regions of the northern half of the country (Brittany, Normandy, Hauts-de-France, Grand-Est, Burgundy-Franche-Comté), as well as in Occitanie.

These initial observations should be interpreted with caution, as the data are not yet consolidated due to the usual delays in data transmission.

Over the period from December 4, 2017, to March 4, 2018 (i.e., weeks 49–2017 to 09–2018, the period for which data are consolidated), an excess mortality rate of 8.2% across all age groups is estimated, representing approximately 12,600 additional deaths (estimate extrapolated to the whole of France). When analyzed by age group, the excess is 9.6% among those aged 15–64 and 7.5% among those aged 65 and older. During this period, the regions most affected by this excess mortality across all age groups are Occitanie (+14%), Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (+11%), Corsica (+14%), and Île-de-France (+10.7%).

At the European level, among the countries participating in the EuroMomo network (www.euromomo.eu), a resurgence in mortality was also observed in mid-February across all age groups and primarily among those aged 65 and older (Figure 5). Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, as well as Spain and Portugal—which had already experienced an initial peak in mortality in early January—recorded excess deaths.

According to data from electronic death certificates, 1,845 deaths were recorded during week 12 (March 19–25) (Figure 4).