Key Points

COVID-19

• In week 34 (W34), the rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases via RT-PCR testing remains low. The rate in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté has been rising since late July, increasing from 11 per 100,000 residents in W33 to 16 in W34.

• The number of SOS Médecins calls and emergency room visits for suspected COVID-19 is increasing, but activity remains low, and the proportion of hospitalizations following emergency room visits remains relatively stable (around 26%).

• In medical-social institutions (ESMS), surveillance of individual Covid-19 cases has been suspended since June 22, 2023, replaced by surveillance of clustered cases of acute respiratory infection (ARI). Between weeks 20 and 34, 14 outbreaks were reported in facilities in the region (between 0 and 4 outbreaks per week), 11 of which were attributable to COVID-19.

• The XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.9 recombinants were circulating in the region in nearly equal proportions last July (representing fewer than 10 sequences, however). EG.5, which is a sublineage of XBB.1.9, has been added to the list of circulating variants (as case numbers are low, its proportion cannot be determined at this stage; the first detection occurred in S23—the week of June 5). To date, the WHO indicates that there is no evidence to suggest a different clinical presentation and/or increased severity of EG.5.

Extreme heat, heat wave

• There has been no unusual increase in activity at emergency departments or SOS Médecins clinics.

• A heatwave occurred in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté from August 18 to 25, 2023. It affected all departments except Yonne. Activity indicators related to heat-related illnesses in emergency departments rose slightly during this episode and then declined.

Chikungunya, dengue, Zika

• In Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 11 imported cases of dengue were biologically confirmed in endemic departments.

• The cases were returning from Cuba, Guadeloupe, India, the Maldives, Martinique, Mexico, the Philippines, and Thailand.

• Six cases were reported through the mandatory reporting system, and the other five were identified through analysis of laboratory data.