Corona and flu: Twindemie is rolling – but “the problem isn’t twice as big”

Created: 03/11/2022, 20:30

By: Jasmine Farah

The clinics in many places are working at the limit.

The staff shortage is exacerbated by cases of illness, although a double wave of corona and flu threatens.

What's happening now?

In the wet and cold season, nasty pathogens are not far away.

Corona has also been keeping the world in suspense for two years.

After a breather in summer, many experts now fear that the virus will come back even worse in winter.

But at the same time, the weather also favors colds or even real influenza.

After all, it is now easier for germs and pathogens to spread through the body via the respiratory tract and mucous membranes.

Corona and flu: Twindemie is rolling – but “the problem isn’t twice as big”

A runny nose can indicate a corona infection.

© Irina Hess/ Imago

Corona and flu - the so-called double wave or "twindemic" - is on the way.

But how bad is it really?

And are we better prepared this winter?

The latter raises doubts, at least according to the latest media reports.

Accordingly, clinics should already be at the limit, since many staff are ill themselves.

But things don't look much different in the family doctor's practices either, complains the Kiel family doctor Dr.

Christian Feddern told

: "The burden in the practices is currently high, we have staff who are ill and therefore even fewer opportunities to take care of patients in a timely manner."

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Everything is being done to continue to ensure outpatient care for patients, but the pressure on practices and clinics is growing.

The latter in particular are said to already be discussing bans on visits.

Especially since a current evaluation by the Barmer health insurance company shows that sick leave due to respiratory diseases has more than doubled since the beginning of autumn.

This even affects the little ones, who are also said to show very strong cold symptoms.

But the Kiel virologist Prof. Helmut Fickenscher gives the all-clear.

Corona and flu: Twindemic is rolling – be careful if you get sick

Just because corona and flu are on the rise again doesn't mean that the risk is doubled, he explains.

"Nice new terms tend to intensify the dramatization," he tells

.

"One imagines that it would then be a double pandemic, but that means that we have to live with Sars-CoV-2, with the flu virus and also with many other pathogens, among other things." He therefore advocates staying relaxed and not to panic.

Nevertheless, the general rule is: If you feel very bad and show symptoms of an acute illness, you should undoubtedly stay at home and recover there until you feel better.

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This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor.

Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.