Key Points

COVID-19

• Despite a slowdown, the strong increase in SARS-CoV-2 viral circulation continues across the region, with a confirmed rise in hospital admissions, particularly among older adults.

• The BA.5 sublineage has been stable and dominant since week S24; it accounts for 67.7% of interpretable sequences in the Flash S26 survey (67.9% for Flash S25); there has been an increase in the proportion of samples carrying the L452 mutation (68% in S27 vs. 57% in S26).

• Increase in the number of deaths (ESMS and hospital-reported), the number of emergency department visits for suspected COVID-19, and new hospitalizations and admissions to intensive care for COVID-19.

Acute gastroenteritis

• In week 27, activity related to gastroenteritis was stable in hospital emergency departments and declining at SOS Médecins.

• Oscour®: In week 27, the number of hospital emergency department visits for gastroenteritis (n = 132) was stable compared to the previous week (n = 132) and accounted for 1.1% of coded visits (1.0% in week 26). Activity related to gastroenteritis was higher than that observed in 2020 and comparable to 2021 during the same period. Among children under 5 years of age, activity related to gastroenteritis was stable compared to the previous week (4.4% vs. 4.2% in week 26). In week 27, the hospitalization rate was 17% (18% among children under 5 years of age), up from the previous week (9% in week 26), and gastroenteritis accounted for 1.1% of the total number of hospitalizations (0.5% in week 26).

• SOS Médecins: In Week 27, the number of SOS Médecins cases for chickenpox (n=8) was down compared to the previous week (n=15) and accounted for 0.6% of coded visits (1.1% in Week 26). Chickenpox-related activity was higher than that observed in 2020 and comparable to 2021 during the same period.

• Sentinelles Network: In week 27, the incidence rate of chickenpox cases seen in general practice was estimated at 17 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (95% CI [0–39] (unconsolidated data), down from the previous week (29/100,000 inhabitants, 95% CI [0–116]).