Health
RKI: Significant increase in flu epidemics
Bed rest with tissues, tea cup, nasal spray and tablets. photo
© Philip Dulian/dpa
The flu wave in Germany is gaining momentum: the RKI is reporting a significant increase in influenza. With Corona, however, the situation continues to deteriorate.
No significant decline has yet been observed in the pathogen RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), which can be dangerous to small children. With Corona, however, the situation continues to weaken, as in previous weeks.
Overall, the RKI speaks of a renewed increase in the number of acute respiratory diseases in the past week, particularly affecting children. It is estimated that around 5.5 million such cases occurred in the population, regardless of a doctor’s visit. The numbers were already significantly higher at the end of 2023, but had since fallen during the school holidays over Christmas and the New Year.
The dynamics of the flu are also clear from the officially reported cases: of the almost 44,000 infections that have been detected in the laboratory nationwide since October, more than 13,000 occurred in the previous week. “Children with an RSV infection under the age of two and school children with an influenza virus infection are particularly affected by hospital admission,” reports the RKI. In addition to flu, Covid-19 also often leads to serious illnesses in older people.