COVID-19 and Influenza Surveillance : role of the Sentinelles network

In March 2020, following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), the “Sentinelles surveillance” evolved. The surveillance of  “influenza-like illness” (ILI, defined as sudden onset of fever above 39°C, accompanied by myalgia and respiratory signs) has been replaced by “acute respiratory infections” (ARI, defined as sudden onset of fever or feeling of fever and respiratory signs). This new surveillance enables both the monitoring of the COVID-19 pandemic and epidemics due to other respiratory viruses (influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus and metapneumovirus), based on patients consulting a general practitioner for an ARI. This surveillance is carried out with “Santé publique France” (the national agency for public health), the National Reference Center for respiratory infections (“Institut Pasteur” and “Hospices Civils de Lyon”) and the University of Corsica.

Data from the Sentinelles network are integrated into the overall national COVID-19 surveillance coordinated by “Santé publique France”. For more information, you can consult the weekly COVID-19 and influenza newsletters from “Santé publique France”. 

At the same time, the Sentinelles network is leading studies and research works on the COVID-19 presented in the “COVID-19” section of this website.