Influenza Outbreak Persists While COVID-19 Cases Show a Decrease

Germany grapples with a surging flu wave as over 30,000 cases were reported in the week ending February 4th, according to a recent update from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) released on Thursday night. The report emphasizes that individuals across all age groups are being affected, leading to a notable increase in doctor visits and hospitalizations.

During the past week alone, the RKI received reports of nearly 31,600 confirmed laboratory cases, with 16 percent of those afflicted requiring hospitalization. Since October, the total tally of reported flu cases stands at approximately 102,000, although experts believe the actual number of unreported cases is likely substantial.

Simultaneously, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) wave persists in shaping infection rates in Germany. The RKI highlights that RSV infections disproportionately impact small children, leading to hospital admissions.

Contrastingly, influenza infections and Covid-19 cases are relatively less prevalent in older individuals, and when they do occur, they tend to result in severe illnesses.

Despite the ongoing flu wave, there is a notable decrease in reported Coronavirus cases, with figures significantly lower than those of the flu. The RKI estimates that around 6.1 million acute respiratory illnesses were recorded last week, irrespective of doctor visits, underlining a continued decline in Coronavirus numbers.

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