Last update
Week 44 review - 30 October to 5 November 2023
The weekly retrospective gives a summary of trends in acute respiratory infections, including COVID-19 and influenza (influenza virus) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Trends of the week:
COVID-19: stabilisation or even a slight decrease after a rise last week.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): slight acceleration in the circulation of the RSV virus, but it remains at a fairly low level.
Influenza: very few cases of influenza have been detected, with circulation at a low level.
COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2
From 30 October to 5 November 2023 (week 44), the number of people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 dropped to 195 cases, compared to 284 cases the previous week (-31%).
The positivity rate remains stable at 23% compared with the previous week. The viral concentration detected in wastewater is decreasing[1].
Taken together, the 3 indicators suggest that the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 has fallen, which is probably linked to departures during the school holidays. The latest sequencing data available show a preponderance of the EG.5.1 variant (38.7%)[2].
Influenza
For the week of 30 October to 5 November (week 44), the number of influenza cases reported by laboratories fell to 4, compared with 8 the previous week.
This data largely overlaps with LNS sentinel surveillance, which indicates increased circulation of rhinoviruses, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV in particular, but little circulation of influenza viruses [2].
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
From 30 October to 5 November 2023 (week 44), the number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases detected by laboratories rose slightly to 19, compared with 18 the previous week.
Press release by the Ministry of Health