Key Points

• An unusual increase in healthcare visits for gastroenteritis has been observed since April, with a peak in activity in the region’s emergency departments during week 24 of 2021;

• Virological surveillance also shows increased circulation of rotaviruses, which particularly affect children under 5 years of age;

• The several-month delay in the gastroenteritis epidemic reflects the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the strengthening of preventive measures on winter viruses.