Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns on emergency data related to mental health disorders in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.

This study estimates the association between emergency department (ED) visits for mental health disorders (MHDs) and the health context of the COVID-19 pandemic in the French region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. This retrospective study took place between 2018 and 2021 using ED data. We defined the main exposure according to five periods: "Pre-pandemic (reference)", "First lockdown", "Second lockdown", "Third lockdown", and "Pandemic out-of-lockdown." We constructed the daily indicators for each MHD-related ED visit based on medical diagnoses. We described and then modeled the daily time series using generalized additive models with a quasi-Poisson regression. The analysis included 5,693,341 ED visits of which MHDs accounted for 4%. We observed a decline in ED use for most indicators, particularly during the first lockdown. Models revealed a statistically significant relative increase in ED visits for almost all MHDs during the first lockdown; for anxiety and child psychiatric disorders during the second lockdown; and only for child psychiatric disorders during the pandemic out-of-lockdown period. The public health crisis and lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have been important sources of stress that could partially explain the deterioration of MHD indicators, thus leading to new public health concerns (notably among the youngest age group). Mental health is a major determinant of overall health and should therefore be considered in the management of crises that may require similar responses in the future.

Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions, weather, vaccination, and variants on COVID-19 transmission across departments in France.

BACKGROUND: Multiple factors shape the temporal dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quantifying their relative contributions is key to guide future control strategies. Our objective was to disentangle the individual effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), weather, vaccination, and variants of concern (VOC) on local SARS-CoV-2 transmission. METHODS: We developed a log-linear model for the weekly reproduction number (R) of hospital admissions in 92 French metropolitan departments. We leveraged (i) the homogeneity in data collection and NPI definitions across departments, (ii) the spatial heterogeneity in the timing of NPIs, and (iii) an extensive observation period (14 months) covering different weather conditions, VOC proportions, and vaccine coverage levels. FINDINGS: Three lockdowns reduced R by 72.7% (95% CI 71.3-74.1), 70.4% (69.2-71.6) and 60.7% (56.4-64.5), respectively. Curfews implemented at 6/7 pm and 8/9 pm reduced R by 34.3% (27.9-40.2) and 18.9% (12.04-25.3), respectively. School closures reduced R by only 4.9% (2.0-7.8). We estimated that vaccination of the entire population would have reduced R by 71.7% (56.4-81.6), whereas the emergence of VOC (mainly Alpha during the study period) increased transmission by 44.6% (36.1-53.6) compared with the historical variant. Winter weather conditions (lower temperature and absolute humidity) increased R by 42.2% (37.3-47.3) compared to summer weather conditions. Additionally, we explored counterfactual scenarios (absence of VOC or vaccination) to assess their impact on hospital admissions. INTERPRETATION: Our study demonstrates the strong effectiveness of NPIs and vaccination and quantifies the role of weather while adjusting for other confounders. It highlights the importance of retrospective evaluation of interventions to inform future decision-making.

Epidemiology, Mortality and Healthcare Resource Utilization Associated With Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease in France.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical characteristics, epidemiology, survival estimates and healthcare resource utilization and associated costs in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) in France. Methods: The French national administrative healthcare database, the Système National des Données de Santé (SNDS), includes data on 98.8% of the French population, including data relating to ambulatory care, hospitalizations and death. In our study, claims data from the SNDS were used to identify adult patients with SSc-ILD between 2010 and 2017. We collected data on clinical features, incidence, prevalence, survival estimates, healthcare resource use and costs. Results: In total, 3,333 patients with SSc-ILD were identified, 76% of whom were female. Patients had a mean age [standard deviation (SD)] of 60.6 (14.4) years and a mean (SD) individual study duration of 3.9 (2.7) years. In 2016, the estimated overall incidence and prevalence were 0.69/100,000 individuals and 5.70/100,000 individuals, respectively. The overall survival estimates of patients using Kaplan-Meier estimation were 93, 82, and 55% at 1, 3, and 8 years, respectively. During the study, 98.7% of patients had ≥1 hospitalization and 22.3% of patients were hospitalized in an intensive care unit. The total annual mean healthcare cost per patient with SSc-ILD was €25,753, of which €21,539 was related to hospitalizations. Conclusions: This large, real-world longitudinal study provides important insights into the epidemiology of SSc-ILD in France and shows that the disease is associated with high mortality, healthcare resource utilization and costs. SSc-ILD represents a high burden on both patients and healthcare services. Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03858842.

Estimates of epidemiology, mortality and disease burden associated with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease in France (the PROGRESS study).

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data on the epidemiology, survival estimates and healthcare resource utilisation and associated costs of patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) in France. An algorithm for extracting claims data was developed to indirectly identify and describe patients with PF-ILD in the French national administrative healthcare database. METHODS: The French healthcare database, the Système National des Données de Santé (SNDS), includes data related to ambulatory care, hospitalisations and death for 98.8% of the population. In this study, algorithms based on age, diagnosis and healthcare consumption were created to identify adult patients with PF-ILD other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis between 2010 and 2017. Incidence, prevalence, survival estimates, clinical features and healthcare resource usage and costs were described among patients with PF-ILD. RESULTS: We identified a total of 14,413 patients with PF-ILD. Almost half of them (48.1%) were female and the mean (± standard deviation) age was 68.4 (± 15.0) years. Between 2010 and 2017, the estimated incidence of PF-ILD ranged from 4.0 to 4.7/100,000 person-years and the estimated prevalence from 6.6 to 19.4/100,000 persons. The main diagnostic categories represented were exposure-related ILD other than hypersensitivity pneumonitis (n = 3486; 24.2%), idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (n = 3113; 21.6%) and rheumatoid arthritis-associated ILD (n = 2521; 17.5%). Median overall survival using Kaplan-Meier estimation was 3.7 years from the start of progression. During the study, 95.2% of patients had ≥ 1 hospitalisation for respiratory care and 34.3% were hospitalised in an intensive care unit. The median (interquartile range) total specific cost per patient during the follow-up period was €25,613 (10,622-54,287) and the median annual cost per patient was €18,362 (6856-52,026), of which €11,784 (3003-42,097) was related to hospitalisations. Limitations included the retrospective design and identification of cases through an algorithm in the absence of chest high-resolution computed tomography scans and pulmonary function tests. CONCLUSIONS: This large, real-world, longitudinal study provides important insights into the characteristics, epidemiology and healthcare resource utilisation and costs associated with PF-ILD in France using a comprehensive and exhaustive database, and provides vital evidence that PF-ILD represents a high burden on both patients and healthcare services. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03858842. ISRCTN, ISRCTN12345678. Registered 3 January 2019-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03858842.

Progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease: a clinical cohort (the PROGRESS study).

In patients with chronic fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD), a progressive fibrosing phenotype (PF-ILD) may develop, but information on the frequency and characteristics of this population outside clinical trials is lacking.We assessed the characteristics and outcomes of patients with PF-ILD other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in a real-world, single-centre clinical cohort. The files of all consecutive adult patients with fibrosing ILD (2010-2017) were examined retrospectively for pre-defined criteria of ≥10% fibrosis on high-resolution computed tomography and progressive disease during overlapping windows of 2 years. Baseline was defined as the date disease progression was identified. Patients receiving nintedanib or pirfenidone were censored from survival and progression analyses.In total, 1395 patients were screened; 617 had ILD other than IPF or combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema, and 168 had progressive fibrosing phenotypes. In 165 evaluable patients, median age was 61 years; 57% were female. Baseline mean forced vital capacity (FVC) was 74±22% predicted. Median duration of follow-up was 46.2 months. Annualised FVC decline during the first year was estimated at 136±328 mL using a linear mixed model. Overall survival was 83% at 3 years and 72% at 5 years. Using multivariate Cox regression analysis, mortality was significantly associated with relative FVC decline ≥10% in the previous 24 months (p<0.05), age ≥50 years (p<0.01) and diagnosis subgroup (p<0.01).In this cohort of patients with PF-ILD not receiving antifibrotic therapy, the disease followed a course characterised by continued decline in lung function, which predicted mortality.

Early assessment of the impact of mitigation measures to control COVID-19 in 22 French metropolitan areas, October to November 2020.

In France, measures including curfew and lockdown were implemented to control the COVID-19 pandemic second wave in 2020. This study descriptively assesses their possible effects, also relative to their timing. A considerable decrease in incidence of COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions was observed 7 to 10 days after mitigation measures were put in place, occurring earlier in metropolitan areas which had implemented these first. This temporal coincidence suggests the measures' positive impact, consistent with international experiences.

Q fever seroprevalence in parturient women: the EQRUN cross-sectional study on Reunion Island.

BACKGROUND: Q fever (Coxiella burnetii infection) has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. After investigating the obstetrical importance of Q fever on Reunion island and demonstrating an association between incident Q fever and miscarriage, we conducted a cross-sectional serosurvey to assess the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection among parturient women. METHODS: Between January 9 and July 24, 2014, within the level-4 maternity of Saint Pierre hospital and the level-1 maternity of Le Tampon, we proposed to screen all parturient women for Coxiella burnetii serology. Seropositivity was defined using indirect immunofluorescence for a dilution of phase 2 IgG titre ≥1:64. Further dilutions were chosen to discriminate recent or active infections from past or prevalent infections (< 1:128) and classify these as either possible (1:128), or probable (≥1:256). Recurrent miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, small-for-gestational as well as a composite outcome of these adverse pregnancy outcomes were compared according to seropositivity using bivariate analysis or propensity score matching of seropositive and seronegative women on confounding factors. RESULTS: Among 1112 parturient women screened for Q fever over this 7-month period, 203 (18.3%) were seropositive. Overall weighted seroprevalence was of 20.1% (95%CI, 17.7-22.5%). Weighted seroprevalence of probable infections was 4.7% (95%CI 3.4-5.9%), while > 90% of positive serologies corresponded to past infections or false positives. Seropositivity was associated with none of the abovementioned adverse perinatal outcomes, whether in unpaired or matched analyses on propensity score. CONCLUSION: The magnitude and the pattern of seroprevalence suggest that Q fever is endemic on Reunion island. In this context, we found no significant contribution of prevalent Coxiella burnetii infection to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Although reassuring, these data put in our endemic context, with a previously demonstrated increased risk of incident Q fever associated miscarriage, encourage us to protect pregnant women against the risk of new infection, periconceptional or early in pregnancy.

Preservative-free versus preserved glaucoma eye drops and occurrence of glaucoma surgery. A retrospective study based on the French national health insurance information system, 2008-2016.

PURPOSE: Preservatives contained in glaucoma eye drops have been shown to have a deleterious impact on the ocular surface. We aimed to assess the association between preservative exposure and the occurrence of further glaucoma surgery among patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension in France. METHODS: The study concerned all patients who first received glaucoma eye drop treatments in a French medical-administrative database (EGB) between 2008 and 2015. Three groups were created according to the level of preservative exposure during the whole follow-up: '0% preservatives', 'mixed' and '100% preservatives'. The occurrence of glaucoma surgery was estimated according to preservative exposure indicators in Cox multivariate models adjusted on age, sex, number of glaucoma eye drops simultaneously used, systemic antihypertensive treatment and duration of treatment. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 12 454 patients. The median (interquartile range) follow-up was 4.1 (1.7-6.1) years. A total of 231 (1.9%) patients underwent glaucoma surgery during follow-up. On multivariable analysis, the risk of glaucoma surgery was increased for the 'mixed' group (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.94 [95% CI, 1.54-10.05]) and for the '100% preservative' group (HR = 7.97 [95% CI, 3.07-20.67]) when compared with the 0% preservative group. CONCLUSION: We found an association between exposure to glaucoma eye drop preservatives and the prevalence of further glaucoma surgery. While these data might be used to support the consideration of routine use of preservative-free drops, in the absence of a randomized clinical trial, they cannot prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship between preservative-free glaucoma eye drops and further glaucoma surgery.

From the threat to the large outbreak: dengue on Reunion Island, 2015 to 2018.

BackgroundWith more than 300 million infections estimated annually worldwide, dengue is the most prevalent arboviral infection. On Reunion Island, after a large outbreak in 1977-78, only limited episodes of viral circulation or sporadic cases were reported till 2015.AimOur objective was to document and report on the circulation of dengue virus after the occurrence of a small outbreak during austral summer 2015/16 and until the large outbreak of 2018.MethodsBeside the mandatory notification of biologically confirmed dengue cases, additional systems of surveillance were set up: estimation of dengue-like syndrome in people seeking care by their family doctor, surveillance of emergency department visits related to dengue, surveillance of hospitalised dengue patients and deaths classifications.ResultsAfter a moderate outbreak during summer 2015/16 with 231 cases, 2017 was characterised by limited viral circulation (97 cases) which, however, persisted during the austral winter. By February 2018, the number of cases had increased and led to a peak at the beginning of May 2018. More than 6,000 cases were reported this year (dengue virus type 2 only). In addition, six deaths of dengue patients were notified.ConclusionIn 2017, the persistence of transmission during winter created favourable conditions for the emergence of an epidemic during summer 2018. After this moderate epidemic wave, the viral circulation persisted during winter 2018 for the second year, opening the door for the second wave in 2019 and for potential endemisation of the disease on Reunion Island in the near future.

Pregnancy outcomes of Q fever: prospective follow-up study on Reunion island.

BACKGROUND: Q fever has been associated with perinatal complications. We conducted a prospective follow-up study to assess both the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) associated with Coxiella burnetii infection and the contribution of Q fever to APOs. METHODS: Between May 1 and October 31, 2013, within the regional perinatal health care centre of Saint Pierre, Reunion island, we investigated unexplained miscarriages, stillbirths, preterm births or small-for-gestational age children. Seropositivity for C. burnetii antibodies was defined using indirect immunofluorescence for a phase 2 IgG titre ≥1:64. Acute Q fever was defined for a high phase 2 IgG titre ≥1:256 (compatible with recent or active infection) or the detection of C. burnetii genome in miscarriage products and placentas. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) for Q fever related APOs (taken as a composite outcome or individually) were assessed using Poisson regression models for dichotomous outcomes controlling major confounders. RESULTS: Over a 6-month period, 179 pregnant women suspected or diagnosed with an APO were investigated for Q fever, of whom 118 met the definition for an APO. Of these, 19 were seropositive and 10 presented a profile indicative of an acute infection. For three women with an acute Q fever, the chronology between the onset of infection, the APO (2 miscarriages, 1 preterm birth) and the seroconversion suggested causality in the pathogenesis. The cumulative incidence of Q fever related APOs was estimated between 2.2‰ and 5.2‰, whether causality was required or not. Both C. burnetii exposure and acute Q fever were independently associated with APOs (IRR 1.55, 95% CI 1.31-1.84; IRR 1.47, 95% CI 1.15-1.89, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In the endemic context of Reunion island, acute Q fever may lead to APOs. To limit the burden of Q fever on reproduction, pregnant women should be kept away from farms and avoid direct contact with ruminants.

Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) Exposure in Humans on Reunion Island.

After the documentation of sporadic cases of Q fever endocarditis, we conducted a serosurvey to assess Coxiella burnetii exposure on Reunion Island. Two hundred forty-one stored frozen human sera were analyzed using an immunofluorescence assay. The weighted seroprevalence of Q fever was of 6.81% (95% confidence interval, 4.02%-9.59%). Despite the absence of infection in youths <20 years of age, exposure was not driven by age or by gender. There was a spatial disparity in exposure across the island, with higher prevalence being reported in regions where ruminant farms are present. The seroprevalence pattern suggests that Q fever is endemic on Reunion Island.

Emergency department syndromic surveillance to investigate the health impact and factors associated with alcohol intoxication in Reunion Island.

In Reunion Island, alcohol is the most tried out psychoactive substance. To our knowledge, few indicators measuring the health burden of alcohol use exist on the island. In this context, an exploratory analysis based on syndromic surveillance data was implemented in order to describe the emergency department (ED) visits for alcohol intoxication (AI) and factors associated with their variations.An analysis of anonymized records routinely collected by the syndromic surveillance system was carried out. A daily indicator of ED visits for AI was built from a selection of ICD-10 codes between 2010 and 2012. Health impact of AI was first described comparing this indicator to all causes ED visits. Then, AI visits were analyzed with time-series methods using generalized additive Poisson regression models allowing for overdispersion. The following variables were included in the model: long-term trend, seasonality, day of the week, public and school holidays, days of festival and minimum social benefits payday.During the study period, 16 652 visits for AI were recorded in EDs of Reunion Island. AI visits were the second reason for ED visits (i.e. 4%) after traumatism. AI visits mainly concerned men (87%) and the age group of 25-54 years (69%). There was a significant increase in ED visits for AI during days of benefits payday, weekends and publics holidays.This study demonstrated the interest of syndromic surveillance to monitor non-infectious diseases. Time-series models showed a robust association between ED visits for AI and several factors.

A major impact of the influenza seasonal epidemic on intensive care units, Réunion, April to August 2016.

The 2016 seasonal influenza in Réunion in the southern hemisphere, was dominated by influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 (possibly genogroup 6B.1). An estimated 100,500 patients with acute respiratory infection (ARI) consulted a physician (cumulative attack rate 11.9%). Sixty-six laboratory-confirmed cases (65.7/100,000 ARI consultations) were hospitalised in an intensive care unit, the highest number since 2009. Impact on intensive care units was major. Correlation between severe cases was 0.83 between Réunion and France and good for 2009 to 2015.

Serological Evidence of Contrasted Exposure to Arboviral Infections between Islands of the Union of Comoros (Indian Ocean).

A cross sectional serological survey of arboviral infections in humans was conducted on the three islands of the Union of Comoros, Indian Ocean, in order to test a previously suggested contrasted exposure of the three neighboring islands to arthropod-borne epidemics. Four hundred human sera were collected on Ngazidja (Grande Comore), Mwali (Mohéli) and Ndzouani (Anjouan), and were tested by ELISA for IgM and/or IgG antibodies to Dengue (DENV), Chikungunya (CHIKV), Rift Valley fever (RVFV), West Nile (WNV), Tick borne encephalitis (TBEV) and Yellow fever (YFV) viruses and for neutralizing antibodies to DENV serotypes 1-4. Very few sera were positive for IgM antibodies to the tested viruses indicating that the sero-survey was performed during an inter epidemic phase for the investigated arbovirus infections, except for RVF which showed evidence of recent infections on all three islands. IgG reactivity with at least one arbovirus was observed in almost 85% of tested sera, with seropositivity rates increasing with age, indicative of an intense and long lasting exposure of the Comorian population to arboviral risk. Interestingly, the positivity rates for IgG antibodies to DENV and CHIKV were significantly higher on Ngazidja, confirming the previously suggested prominent exposure of this island to these arboviruses, while serological traces of WNV infection were detected most frequently on Mwali suggesting some transmission specificities associated with this island only. The study provides the first evidence for circulation of RVFV in human populations from the Union of Comoros and further suggests that the virus is currently circulating on the three islands in an inconspicuous manner. This study supports contrasted exposure of the islands of the Comoros archipelago to arboviral infections. The observation is discussed in terms of ecological factors that may affect the abundance and distribution of vector populations on the three islands as well as concurring anthropogenic factors that may impact arbovirus transmission in this diverse island ecosystem.

Réunion Island prepared for possible Zika virus emergence, 2016.

Zika virus (ZIKV) has recently spread widely and turned into a major international public health threat. Réunion appears to offer conditions particularly favourable to its emergence and therefore prepared to face possible introduction of the virus. We designed a scaled surveillance and response system with specific objectives, methods and measures for various epidemiological phases including a potential epidemic. Several tools were developed in order to (i) detect individual cases (including a large information campaign on the disease and suspicion criteria), (ii) monitor an outbreak through several complementary systems allowing to monitor trends in disease occurrence and geographic spread and (iii) detect severe forms of the disease in collaboration with hospital clinicians. We put the emphasis on detecting the first cases in order to contain the spread of the virus as much as possible and try to avoid progress towards an epidemic. Our two main strengths are a powerful vector control team, and a close collaboration between clinicians, virologists, epidemiologists, entomologists and public health authorities. Our planned surveillance system could be relevant to Europe and island settings threatened by Zika virus all over the world.

Leprosy on Reunion Island, 2005-2013: Situation and Perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Reunion Island is a French overseas territory located in the south-western of Indian Ocean, 700 km east of Madagascar. Leprosy first arrived on Reunion Island in the early 1700s with the African slaves and immigration from Madagascar. The disease was endemic until 1980 but improvement of health care and life conditions of inhabitants in the island have allowed a strong decrease in new cases of leprosy. However, the reintroduction of the disease by migrants from endemic neighbouring countries like Comoros and Madagascar is a real and continuing risk. This observational study was then conducted to measure the number of new cases detected annually on Reunion Island between 2005 and 2013, and to describe the clinical features of these patients. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Data were collected over two distinct periods. Incident cases between 2005 and 2010 come from a retrospective study conducted in 2010 by the regional Office of French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (CIRE of Indian Ocean), when no surveillance system exist. Cases between 2011 and 2013 come from a prospective collection of all new cases, following the implementation of systematic notification of all new cases. All patient data were anonymized. Among the 25 new cases, 12 are Reunion Island residents who never lived outside Reunion Island, and hence are considered to be confirmed autochthonous patients. Registered prevalence in 2014 was 0.05 /10 000 habitants, less than the WHO's eradication goal (1/10 000). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Leprosy is no longer a major public health problem on Reunion Island, as its low prevalence rate indicates. However, the risk of recrudescence of the disease and of renewed autochthonous transmission remains real. In this context, active case detection must be pursued through the active declaration and rapid treatment of all new cases.

Association between long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality in France: A 25-year follow-up study.

INTRODUCTION: Long-term exposure to air pollution (AP) has been shown to have an impact on mortality in numerous countries, but since 2005 no data exists for France. OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality at the individual level in a large French cohort followed from 1989 to 2013. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 20,327 adults working at the French national electricity and gas company EDF-GDF. Annual exposure to PM10, PM10­2.5, PM2.5, NO2, O3, SO2, and benzene was assessed for the place of residence of participants using a chemistry-transport model and taking residential history into account. Hazard ratios were estimated using a Cox proportional-hazards regression model, adjusted for selected individual and contextual risk factors. Hazard ratios were computed for an interquartile range (IQR) increase in air pollutant concentrations. RESULTS: The cohort recorded 1967 non-accidental deaths. Long-term exposures to b aseline PM2.5, PM10-25, NO2 and benzene were associated with an increase in non-accidental mortality (Hazard Ratio, HR = 1.09; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.20 per 5.9 µg/m3, PM10-25; HR=1.09; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.15 per 2.2 µg/m3, NO2: HR=1.14; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.31 per 19.3 µg/m3 and benzene: HR=1.10; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.22 per 1.7 µg/m3).The strongest association was found for PM10: HR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.25 per 7.8 µg/m3. PM10, PM10-25 and SO2 were associated with non-accidental mortality when using time varying exposure. No significant associations were observed between air pollution and cardiovascular and respiratory mortality. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to fine particles, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and benzene is associated with an increased risk of non-accidental mortality in France. Our results strengthen existing evidence that outdoor air pollution is a significant environmental risk factor for mortality. Due to the limited sample size and the nature of our study (occupational), further investigations are needed in France with a larger representative population sample.

Dengue outbreaks: a constant risk for Reunion Island. Results from a seroprevalence study among blood donors.

BACKGROUND: Immunity against dengue virus (DENV) on Reunion Island could play an important role in the risk of dengue outbreaks but is rather unknown. A study was performed to estimate seroprevalence of antibodies against DENV among blood donors. METHODS: An age- and sex-stratified sample of 1825 sera was randomly selected. RESULTS: Overall seroprevalence was 3.1% (95% CI: 2.2-3.9%); seroprevalence increased with age and was much higher in women than in men. CONCLUSION: The low level of herd immunity is consistent with the absence of an endemic circulation of DENV, and makes it probable that Reunion Island will face future outbreaks.

A fatal neuroinvasive West Nile virus infection in a traveler returning from Madagascar: clinical, epidemiological and veterinary investigations.

Abstract. A 58-year-old woman living in Reunion Island and returning from Madagascar was hospitalized for neuroinvasive encephalitis and died 1 month later. West Nile virus (WNV) infection was biologically confirmed by detection of immunoglobulin M (IgM) reactive with WNV antigens in both cerebrospinal fluid and serum, and weak neutralizing activity was also detected. A veterinary survey performed in her traveling area showed a seroprevalence of WNV of 28.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 21.1-36.3) in adult poultry, confirming an active circulation of the virus. Development of a severe form could be related to a weak antibody response, because the patient presented low IgM and IgG titers. This case report underlines the constant risk of emergence of West Nile in Indian Ocean territories, including Reunion Island where competent vectors are widely present during the whole year.