National snapshot: what Santé Publique France reports for week 38
Autumn remains a challenging period for respiratory infections in France. In the Santé Publique France weekly bulletin covering week 38 (15–21 September 2025), the agency notes that visits to emergency departments (EDs) for all causes stayed broadly stable across most age groups. The notable exception is children under two, who showed a notable uptick (+9%, or +1,766 ED passages).
When it comes to suspected Covid-19 infections, the trend diverges by age: adults registered a continued rise (+37%, or +375 passages), while the first week of decline was observed among children. Separately, the health status in EDs is being watched for a variant on the WHO’s radar: XFG, nicknamed “Frankenstein.” Described by a general practitioner as a hybrid of previous Omicron lineages, XFG is noted as more contagious but not inherently more dangerous according to current assessments.
These data come as European and global health authorities monitor shifts in transmission, including how new variants interact with public immune protection and vaccination campaigns this autumn.
Regional spotlight: Occitanie’s share of Covid-19 suspicions in EDs
Within Occitanie, Santé Publique France outlines the percentage of ED visits where Covid-19 suspicions account for the patient’s reason for consultation. The distribution highlights the uneven impact across départements, with the following figures for week 38:
- Ariège: 11.28%
- Tarn-et-Garonne: 9.71%
- Tarn: 7.24%
- Gers: 6.93%
- Pyrénées-Orientales: 6.60%
- Gard: 6.30%
- Haute-Garonne: 6.12%
- Aveyron: 5.60%
- Hérault: 5.23%
- Hautes-Pyrénées: 4.70%
- Lozère: 4.36%
- Lot: 3.51%
- Aude: 3.19%
These values show that, even within a single region, some departments buck national trends with higher or lower shares of suspected Covid-19 among urgent care visits. Ariège, for example, sits in a relatively high position within Occitanie, signaling heightened transmission or testing activity in that department during this period.
Other regions: a mixed national picture
Across the rest of France, SPF notes several departments with the highest shares of ED visits for suspected Covid-19, including:
- Calvados: 11.78%
- Vendée: 11.43%
- Drôme: 11.23%
Importantly, Ariège’s comparable share positions it among the most affected at the national level in week 38 (11.28%). The data illustrate the uneven geography of surges, with some departments reporting sharp increases or decreases compared with the prior week.
Moreover, the evolution indicates dramatic week-to-week changes in certain areas: Territoire de Belfort (+1050%), Hautes-Pyrénées (+571%), and Lozère (+390%) recorded striking spikes in suspected Covid-19 cases in EDs during week 38. Conversely, Ille-et-Vilaine and the Alpes-Maritimes saw sizable declines (−77% and −64%, respectively), and Bouches-du-Rhône also posted a notable decrease. These fluctuations underscore the importance of local vigilance and targeted public health responses.
What this means for health services and the public
For clinicians, the data emphasize maintaining robust infection control and ensuring clear pathways for patients with suspected Covid-19, especially in regions showing rising shares. For the public, autumn remains a key period to get vaccinated and to follow public health guidance, especially for vulnerable groups and caregivers who frequent EDs or live with people at higher risk of severe disease. The appearance of XFG as a circulating variant adds a note of caution: while not deemed more dangerous at present, its higher transmissibility makes vaccination and early testing even more important during this season of respiratory infections.
Readers can monitor updates from Santé Publique France and regional health authorities for local thresholds, testing guidance, and vaccination campaigns as the autumn season progresses.
