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.