Flu flu epidemic spreads to the east

Flu epidemic in Germany: First fatality in 2013 due to influenza

02/16/2013

Seasonal flu is currently spreading in Germany. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the eastern states in particular are affected by a veritable flu epidemic. In addition, there should be a stronger presence in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. In the federal state of Saxony and the capital Berlin, there have already been the first deaths due to the flu.

Not every cold or cough is a flu. „If the onset is rapid and severe, such as headaches, body aches, chills, and high fever, suffer from severe flu“, says the alternative practitioner Tobias Schmidt. A flu as such also heals again. If patients are already weakened in advance due to their age or a chronic illness, it can be dangerous. Dangerous are usually not the viruses themselves, but the secondary bacterial infections that follow during or after the viral infectious disease. Not uncommon, for example, is a subsequent pneumonia.

Flu wave in the doctor's offices
At present, the influenza viruses are rampant throughout Germany. „Very high levels of influenza and cold activity“, also reports the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin. Doctors also blog on the Internet and report on their everyday practice. So wrote „kinderdoc“ Blogger „The day is filled with flu. Hardly a child who has anything else.“ It is not foreseeable when „Climax of this year's flu epidemic is exceeded“, reported the RKI spokeswoman Silke Buda. Since the fall of 2012 alone 14,941 flu cases have been reported to the RKI. 17 people have been confirmed laboratory-confirmed in Germany already at this year's influenza.

Above all, the RKI weekly report shows that the eastern German states, parts of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate are severely affected by the flu. According to the RKI expert, the increase has increased „but slightly delayed“. Increased are the doctor consultations and the number of respiratory diseases. „Only in three cold waves of the last ten years, there were more visits to the doctor due to respiratory infections“. In the last week alone, 2958 laboratory flu cases were reported to the RKI. „The number of patient cases can be significantly increased by late registrations.“

Deaths in Berlin and Saxony
At present, the risk of death from influenza is usually not very high. In Berlin, however, there were, according to RKI the first Grippetoten of the year. Especially people with severe pre-existing conditions are at risk, as a flu massively weakens the body. So also in the Berlin case, as confirmed by Regina Kneiding of the Senate Department of Health. „The man from Neukölln had had a previous illness at heart and belonged to the so-called risk patients“. In the laboratory, the influenza viruses were clearly confirmed. How old the deceased was, Kneiding could not communicate during a press conference. „The flu epidemic is very pronounced this season, "the spokeswoman told the" Berliner Morgenpost. "For panic was still no reason, according to the Senate for Health insist „no special drama“.

Nobody in Berlin died of influenza in the last year. In 2011, however, there were four and in 2010 even seven people who died as a result of the flu and or the previous illness. This year, according to Kneiding „flu“ good at. "Who is vaccinated, is on the safe side," said the spokeswoman. In the northern part of Saxony, a 72-year-old man died as a result of the flu illness. As a result, the victim suffered pneumonia, from which he succumbed. Although the man was at an advanced age, but suffered according to the Saxon Ministry of Health in Dresden „not due to previous illnesses“. According to a ministry spokesman is located „the flu epidemic continues at a high level“. However, due to the winter holidays, the incidence of new cases has declined slightly by 17 percent. Nevertheless, it is „from a relaxation of the situation still no speech“.

Complications in 12 percent of flu cases
Since October last year, the health authorities of the Free State of Saxony registered 3841 patient cases. Dominant is still the swine flu with 1367 infections so far. Most affected are adults between the age of 25 and 65 and children up to six years. In 12 percent of all flu cases, there are complications and severe cases in which patients need to be ventilated, for example.

It is important to strengthen your immune system and to pay attention to a balanced diet. Then the body with its defenses is well prepared to defeat the flu viruses. Elderly or chronically ill patients should also consider vaccination in the opinion of medical professionals. This is only effective if it was set in time before the wave broke out. (Sb)

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