Flu Wave Much more swine flu cases than last year

Swine flu in Germany on the rise
Fever, cough, headache and body aches: The flu epidemic 2016 continues to spread. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) dominated this season so far the H1N1 virus ("swine flu"). Health authorities are reporting more cases than last year.

Already reported over 13,000 flu cases
Headache, high fever, coughing and aching limbs: The flu epidemic is in full swing. In the past seventh calendar week of 2016 alone, 3,081 confirmed influenza cases were transmitted to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). According to the institute, 13,290 flu cases have been reported since the beginning of the season in early October. Although the course is so far typical and the magnitude compared to other years in the frame, it is striking, however, that mostly healthy adults infected with severe flu. According to initial findings, the current flu epidemic hits people of middle age groups more frequently and more severely than in previous years.

Swine flu in circulation. Picture: snyggg - fotolia

Current dominance of the H1N1 virus
The reason for this is probably the current dominance of the circulating since 2009 virus A (H1N1) pdm09, as the RKI announced. The H1N1 virus, which many may be familiar with under the name swine flu, appears to cause more severe disease, especially in younger adults, than the A (H3N2) virus, which was prevalent the previous year, according to an RKI spokeswoman. However, serious illnesses are an exception altogether. Most recently, international cases of severe influenza cases in intensive care units had been reported more frequently, with the H1N1 virus being the more specific case.

East Germany more affected
East Germany is comparatively affected in the current season. Especially in the west of Saxony, the diseases are currently piling up. According to the Saxon State Investigation Institute (LUA) there are so far 2,137 confirmed influenza cases and six deaths in the Free State. 72 percent of the diseases are due to the H1N1 virus. In Hamburg, the swine flu is on the rise. According to the Hamburg health authority, in January alone 103 people in the Hanseatic city got the virus. (Ad)