Key Points

Mortality: Mortality during week 33 (August 14–20, 2017) is below the expected level for this period across all age groups. The trend is the same at the national level.

Emergency department visits by vulnerable populations: Emergency department activity among people aged 75 and older and among children under 1 year of age remains close to expected levels, or even below them for this period.

Virology: The number of positive respiratory virus samples from the laboratories at the Bordeaux and Poitiers University Hospitals increased in week 33 (20 positive samples). At the Poitiers and Bordeaux University Hospitals, the majority were rhinovirus/enterovirus (5 and 8 samples, respectively). No samples were positive at the Limoges University Hospital. At the Bordeaux University Hospital, there was an increase in the number of enterovirus meningitis cases (5 in week 34), consistent with data from emergency departments.

Notifiable Diseases (ND): Decline in the number of hepatitis A cases since early August, including in Gironde (cases diagnosed in weeks 31 to 34) (provisional data). No cases of measles reported in the region since June 1.

Allergies: Allergy activity observed by SOS Médecins associations is stable, at a low level in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Current pollen levels (grasses, plantains, nettles, ragweeds) pose a very low to low allergy risk in the region.

Chickenpox: Chickenpox activity, according to SOS Médecins data, is below what is expected for this time of year.

Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika – Enhanced surveillance in Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Since May 1, when enhanced surveillance began in the region’s departments colonized by Aedes albopictus (depts. 24, 33, 40, 47, and 64), 47 suspected cases have been reported. In total, 5 cases of dengue and 2 imported cases of Zika have been confirmed.

Heat-related illnesses (HRI): increased activity in week 34 according to SOS Médecins data (0.5% of total activity, or 38 consultations), typically observed during periods of high temperatures. Yellow heat wave alert in the departments of Corrèze, Dordogne, and Lot-et-Garonne on August 25 and 26, extended to the departments of Charente, Charente-Maritime, Gironde, Landes, Deux-Sèvres, and Vienne on August 27 and 28. No heat wave is expected in Nouvelle-Aquitaine over the next 5 days, according to Météo France.