RSV activity in France
Current respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity in France — based on ECDC ERVISS weekly data, set against the parallel flu and COVID-19 trajectories.
Current situation: RSV
In week 13 of 2026, activity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in France is low. The trend — derived from clinical surveillance — is rising. Over a four-week comparison, a clear decline is visible.
The classification is based on the ECDC ERVISS weekly reports, drawing on RSV surveillance data from Santé publique France's sentinel network and laboratory positivity indicators. Seasonally, infection waves in France typically peak between December and February; activity is usually markedly lower in spring and summer. How severe a given season becomes depends on the circulating virus variant and the population's immune status, among other factors.
Data sources and methodology
The current picture for France is built on the European Respiratory Virus Surveillance Summary (ERVISS), published weekly by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Santé publique France is the national public-health authority that feeds ERVISS with sentinel primary care and virology data.
ECDC ERVISS
ERVISS is ECDC's weekly pan-European surveillance summary for influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV. National authorities — in France's case Santé publique France — submit harmonised indicators every week, which ECDC publishes in a standardised dataset on Thursdays. Using ERVISS rather than each country's native portal ensures cross-country comparability.
ILI / ARI consultation rates and positivity
Santé publique France operates a sentinel network of general practices that report weekly rates of patients consulting for influenza-like illness (ILI) or acute respiratory infection (ARI). A subset of patients is swabbed and tested by reference laboratories, producing pathogen-specific positivity rates for flu, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV.
Why this source
Combining consultation incidence with virological positivity yields a pathogen-specific weekly incidence signal (ILI × positivity / 100). This is the standard European methodology and provides a more robust view than either indicator alone — consultation rates capture illness burden, positivity confirms which pathogen is driving it.
Qualitative classification
The “low”, “moderate” and “high” categories follow seasonal reference values and epidemiological thresholds calibrated to match our classifications for other countries. The ILI × positivity / 100 product is scaled to comparable thresholds using a divisor of 3, which aligns European sentinel peaks with the consultation-equivalent scale used elsewhere. Data refreshes weekly when ECDC publishes the latest ERVISS update, typically on Thursdays.
Frequently asked questions
When is RSV season in France?
RSV in France typically returns in autumn, rises through November and December, and peaks between January and February before fading in spring. Santé publique France follows RSV activity through its respiratory-infection surveillance, and bronchiolitis hospitalisation data is tracked in a dedicated weekly bulletin. Intensity varies from year to year depending on age-structured immunity and virus co-circulation.
Who is most at risk from RSV in France?
The two groups at highest risk of severe RSV are young infants, especially those under six months, premature babies, and infants with heart or lung disease, and older adults, particularly those aged 75 and above or with chronic respiratory or cardiac conditions. In otherwise healthy adults and older children, RSV usually resembles a common cold and resolves without complications.
Are there RSV vaccines or antibody treatments in France?
Yes. France has rolled out the long-acting monoclonal antibody nirsevimab for infants entering their first RSV season, with coverage monitored by Santé publique France and subsequent impact on paediatric hospitalisations already documented. RSV vaccination is also recommended by the Haute Autorité de Santé for pregnant women and for older adults in defined risk groups, with programmes progressively expanding.
How is RSV surveillance organised in France?
Santé publique France combines several streams: sentinel virological testing via Réseau Sentinelles and GROG, OSCOUR emergency visits for bronchiolitis, SOS Médecins consultations, and SIVIC hospital admission data. Paediatric bronchiolitis has its own weekly bulletin because of its strong seasonal impact. Results also feed the ECDC ERVISS dashboard for European comparison.
How does RSV differ from flu?
RSV and influenza both cause respiratory infections and co-circulate during French winters, but their risk profiles differ. RSV is the leading cause of bronchiolitis in infants, while flu affects all age groups and is especially severe in older adults and people with chronic conditions. Symptoms overlap, and a reliable distinction usually requires laboratory testing through sentinel or hospital networks.
Want the actual numbers?
You'll find them in the app.
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