Key Points

• Flu: In the Languedoc-Roussillon region, the indicators being monitored (SOS Médecins and emergency departments) show a downward trend for flu-like illnesses in week 2015-8, following a peak reached in week 2015-07.

• Bronchitis / Pneumonia: Emergency room visits for pneumonia began to decline in week 2015-08 but remain high. As with bronchitis, 40 to 50% of patients were over 75 years of age. Hospitalizations remain frequent for these common complications of the flu (25% for bronchitis, 50% for pneumonia, across all age groups).

• Bronchiolitis: The outbreak is ending in the region, while the decline continues at the national level.

• Gastroenteritis: Emergency room visits have reached the highest level observed over the past two years in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. These visits particularly involve children under 6 years of age (3 out of 4 patients).

• Hospital strain: Alongside the increase in emergency room visits among the elderly, it is worth noting that numerous visits/consultations by SOS Médecins were recorded for the 75-and-older age group, with higher numbers than are usually observed at this time of year.

• Mortality: A preliminary estimate of winter mortality shows that, nationally, since the beginning of 2015, mortality has been 17% higher than the expected mortality rate calculated based on the previous 8 years. The increase in mortality is observed among the elderly and affects all regions. This increase in mortality is estimated at 18% for the Languedoc-Roussillon region. In Europe, an increase in all-cause mortality among people aged 65 and older has also been observed since the end of 2014 in 10 of the 16 countries or regions participating in the European mortality surveillance system.