Heavy flu outbreak in winter?

Experts predict severe flu episodes in winter

28/09/2012

Every year around 100,000 people around the world die as a result of the flu. In Germany alone, there are 5,000 to 8,000 influenza cases with fatal outcome each year. Experts warn against underestimating the disease. For the coming winter, a particularly strong flu epidemic is expected. „This is indicated by the fact that there are twice as many illnesses, deaths and hospitalizations in Australia, where there is currently flu, "explains Peter Wutzler, President of the German Association for the Control of Viral Diseases, at the beginning of the German Influenza Congress in Erfurt.

Flu epidemic favored by lack of vaccination preparedness of the population?
According to Wutzler, the lack of vaccination in the population contributes significantly to the spread of the flu. In the past two years, the winter had also been mild, so that fewer flu cases occurred and the population was not immunized. Especially for older and sick people vaccination in the fall makes sense. According to Wutzler, women in the last third of pregnancy should also be vaccinated against influenza. Her risk of developing influenza is up to eight times higher than in the first few months of pregnancy. Thus, the risk of a stillbirth and increased illness in the first year of life of the child can be significantly reduced.

The health risk of flu is still underestimated by patients, but also by doctors. Every year there are up to 5,000 to 8,000 flu-related deaths in the Federal Republic. „In the winter of 1995/1996, 30,000 people died in Germany alone, "said Jan Leidel, chairman of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO), according to which flu epidemics vary widely and are difficult to predict According to Wutzler, influenza also has social consequences According to Robert Koch -Instituts (RKI) in Berlin there were 2.1 million flu-related visits to doctors and 800,000 sick leave in the winter of 2011/2012.

Do not underestimate the risk of a flu epidemic
Many physicians warn against underestimating influenza and giving up vaccination. According to the STIKO, only half of those over the age of 60 can be vaccinated against influenza in the case of chronically ill patients and not even every third person in the medical profession. The EU, on the other hand, is aiming for a target of 75 percent each. For the coming winter would be a sufficient amount, at least twelve million vaccine doses ready.

The vaccines are becoming increasingly differentiated for children, adults and the elderly, according to Michael Pfleiderer from the Paul Ehrlich Institute. There are many new developments in the meantime, but they would not be widely used. Infants needed a basic immunization because they had not come into contact with influenza viruses. For healthy adults, a vaccine refreshment is sufficient, while older people again needed a higher dose, said Pfleiderer.

As the STIKO announced, is in the flu season 2011/2012 also the first time „live attenuated vaccine against influenza viruses“ to disposal. This is administered by spraying in the nostrils. Like the approved dead vaccines against influenza, the live vaccine is also a so-called trivalent vaccine. „The strain composition corresponds to the current recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO)“, It says in a statement of the STIKO.

Decline in influenza in Australia
Whether the need for vaccination is more or less necessary than in previous years remains questionable, despite the warning of some experts about a strong flu epidemic. According to the Australian Ministry of Health, there were no more flu cases in this flu season than in previous years.

The agency said the H3N2 pathogen was responsible for many illnesses in Australia during this flu season. The swine flu virus H1N1 was much less common than in previous years. At the beginning of the flu season, the authorities observed an unusually large increase in cases of illness. However, according to the Australian Ministry of Health, the number of infections over the entire flu season was hardly higher than in previous influenza waves. By mid-July, the number of flu-related hospital admissions had peaked. Since then, the numbers have dropped significantly. (Ag)

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