Key Points

COVID-19

• In Week 15 of 2022, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the Grand Est region showed signs of stabilizing:

  • A marked decrease in incidence among those under 50, and a more moderate decrease for other age groups;

  • Decrease in the hospitalization rate compared to the previous week;

  • Stable number of emergency room visits;

  • Due to a data transmission issue, SOS Médecins consultations are not available for week 15-2022;

  • Departmental incidence rates: a decrease in incidence rates across all departments. The highest rate is observed in the Ardennes (1,394 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), and the lowest is observed in the Meuse (951 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).

• Variants: The screening rate is 44%, and 97% of screened tests indicate a suspected Omicron variant (for tests where the mutation is sought and interpretable).

• Vaccination (COVID Vaccine data): As of April 18, 2022, full vaccination coverage for the region was 78.3%. 87.7% of those aged 65–74 and 79.3% of those aged 75 and older had received a booster dose.

Bronchiolitis

• SOS Médecins: Due to a data transmission issue, SOS Médecins consultations have not been interpretable since week S07-22.

• OSCOUR®: In week 15-2022, the proportion of emergency department visits related to bronchiolitis among children under 2 years of age was 3.4%, representing 58 visits. The proportion of hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among all hospitalizations following an emergency department visit was 8.8% in week 15-2022.

• Virology data: According to results from the virology laboratories at the Nancy and Strasbourg University Hospitals in week 15 of 2022, circulation of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is now sporadic in the region.

Influenza and influenza-like illnesses

• SOS Médecins: Due to a data transmission issue, SOS Médecins consultation data has not been available since week S07-2022.

• Oscour®: The number of emergency department visits for flu-like illness, across all age groups, decreased in week S15-2022 compared to the previous week (609 versus 821 in S14-2022) and accounts for 2% of activity. Children under 15 years of age account for more than half of the visits.

• Virology data: According to data from the virology laboratories at the Nancy and Strasbourg University Hospitals, the circulation of influenza viruses, although still high in week 15-2022 in the region, is beginning to decline significantly.

• Intensive care units in the region: Since the start of surveillance (10/04/2021), three cases of severe influenza have been reported.

• Acute respiratory infections in long-term care facilities: Since the start of surveillance (October 4, 2021), 28 episodes of ARI (excluding COVID-19) have been reported.

Acute gastroenteritis

• SOS Médecins: Due to a data transmission issue, SOS Médecins consultations have not been available since week 07-2022.

• Oscour®: The number of emergency department visits for acute gastroenteritis (AGI), all ages, continued to decline in week 15-2022 (508 visits compared to 655 in week 14-2022), accounting for 1.9% of department activity. Children under 5 years of age still account for the majority of this activity, with 291 visits for GEA (8.2% of activity for this age group). The proportion of hospitalizations for GEA among all hospitalizations following an emergency department visit in children under 5 is decreasing (12%).

• Virology data: According to data from the virology laboratories at the University Hospitals of Nancy and Strasbourg, rotavirus circulation is decreasing.