Over the past week in the region:

This marks the seventh week of the flu epidemic, with flu-like symptoms (reasons for SOS Médecins consultations and emergency room visits) remaining at a high plateau for the past three weeks. Among children under 15, the increase in emergency room visits for the flu at Nantes University Hospital continues.

In total, 105 cases of severe flu have been hospitalized in the region since early October. Over the past 3 weeks, the number of severe flu cases has been rising among children, including 6 cases reported in infants under 1 year of age.

Among people aged 75 and older, a further increase in emergency room visits was also observed last week, with acute lower respiratory infections remaining at a high level.

In addition to the influenza virus, RSV circulation remains active, with isolates detected in infants and adults by the virology laboratory at Angers University Hospital.

In nursing homes across the region, the number of new ARI outbreaks is gradually decreasing (21 new outbreaks reported in the past week), bringing the total number of outbreaks since early September to 189. The proportion of nursing homes that have experienced an ARI outbreak remains higher in Loire-Atlantique and Maine-et-Loire and lower in Mayenne.

Mortality observed in the region during the first week of 2017 shows a significant excess across all age groups and among people aged 65 and older, though lower than in the southeastern regions of France. In week 2, the observed number of deaths is decreasing compared to week 1.