Key Development: Acute Respiratory Infections Among the Elderly

Reports of outbreaks of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in long-term care facilities for the elderly continue to be received by the Midi-Pyrénées Regional Health Agency (ARS). Since early November 2011, 37 outbreaks have been reported, 9 of which occurred last week (week 8). All departments have reported at least one outbreak. The influenza virus was identified as the cause of the outbreak in 13 cases, and pneumococcus in one case (though not all outbreaks have been etiologically confirmed). This high number of outbreaks reflects the national and regional epidemiological context, with the spread of influenza transmission and the particular vulnerability of the elderly to the A(H3N2) virus currently in circulation.