Flu wave spreads in Germany — Institute

A wave of flu infections in Germany has continued to grow and now affecting all age groups, according to a weekly update from Germany’s public health authority.

Previously, it had primarily been schoolchildren and young adults who had contracted the flu, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

In total, more than 30,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of flu have been reported to the RKI in Germany since the start of the flu season.

The numbers of reported infections are currently rising from week to week, according to the RKI, although public health officials assumed that a large proportion of flu cases were not reported at all.

Most of the reported flu cases are patients being treated in hospitals, which are noticing an increasing proportion of influenza diagnoses among people admitted for serious respiratory illnesses during the past week.

In addition, the RKI reported that infections with the respiratory virus RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

Cases of COVID-19, on the other hand have been declining continuously since mid-December, as can also be seen in wastewater tests, according to the RKI.

Overall, the estimated number of acute respiratory illnesses in Germany remained stable compared to the previous week at around 4.5 million, according to the RKI.