Status: 09.11.2023, 17:52 PM
By: Carolin Gehrmann
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Respiratory diseases are currently on the rise. The coronavirus is now causing most of the illnesses again. But other pathogens are also rampant.
Munich – When the colder season begins, the general coughing and sniffling begins again. Respiratory diseases in particular then spread and are currently on the rise again in Germany – with an upward trend.
This is also statistically proven: 7,500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants were counted by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in the week from 30 October to 5 November. Compared to the previous week, which reached a new record for this calendar week with 8,500 patients, this is a slight decrease. Nevertheless, a new record was set – and conspicuously early in the cold season.
Robert Koch Institute Records Increased Respiratory Infections Again
Last week, according to projections by the RKI, around 6.2 million people in Germany lay flat due to a respiratory infection. Even if the premature increase in respiratory infections is statistically out of line, it is not entirely unusual. "Experience has shown that the first cold weeks in autumn always cause a significant increase in infection cases in our practices," explains Markus Beier, Federal Chairman of the Association of General Practitioners, to the German Press Agency (dpa). In the eyes of the experts, there is currently no clear reason why the wave is already picking up speed.
What is certain, however, is that one pathogen in particular is currently spreading. The coronavirus has now overtaken the conventional rhino or cold viruses. Since July, the number of detected Sars-CoV-2 infections has been rising continuously. Now the pathogen has taken the lead in terms of numbers in the current wave.
Almost half of the illnesses are due to coronavirus
According to the RKI's latest weekly report, 66 cases of Sars-CoV-32 (around 2 percent) were detected in a total of 49 samples with virus detection sent in as part of the RKI's Sentinel Surveillance. In 26 cases (39 percent), simple rhinoviruses, which cause a common cold, were responsible for the disease. In sentinel surveillance, participating medical practices provide the Robert Koch Institute with samples from patients with respiratory infections in order to determine which pathogen is involved.
Currently, many people in Germany have an acute respiratory infection. And the trend is rising. © Shotshop/IMAGO
Accordingly, the flu wave is not yet an issue, as the review showed. Influenza viruses, which can cause severe influenza, have so far only been marginally involved in the current disease process. In the samples included in the current weekly report, only one case of influenza was detected. Since the beginning of October, only about 900 confirmed cases have been recorded in the report. Compared to the same period last year, that's only about a tenth.
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Severe flu wave like 2022 is not yet on the horizon
In 2022, a severe flu wave had already begun at the end of October, which had been unusually early. Since the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) had also become increasingly widespread last autumn and winter, many clinics and doctors' offices had reached their limits. Children's wards in particular were at the limit in many places.
According to experts, this enormous wave of respiratory infections was also due to the fact that the Corona pandemic had shown a certain catch-up effect in diseases with other respiratory pathogens. As a result, new record levels of flu cases were reached as early as December. Experience has shown that the flu season does not reach its peak until a few weeks later.
Further development of influenza and RS virus decisive for the course of the disease wave
A scenario similar to the end of 2022 is currently not emerging. This is because infections with RSV have only been detected sporadically so far in the current season. However, the RKI considers it difficult to make a forecast with regard to the further trend. Many factors played a role in this. For example, it is currently not clear whether and when pathogens such as RSV or flu viruses will occur more frequently. To this end, the currently circulating variants of the coronavirus would have to continue to be monitored. Especially with regard to whether they will stay or whether they will be displaced by new mutations.
Currently, hospitals are not overwhelmed because of respiratory diseases
The currently dominant corona variant remains EG.5 or "Egis", which accounts for almost 43 percent of corona infections. The variant "Pirola" (BA.2.86), which is currently under observation, is also represented: it is responsible for about 7 percent of the diseases. According to the RKI report, the situation in hospitals is currently stable.
An overload of intensive care units due to a large number of severe acute respiratory infections is therefore not to be expected at present. It is striking, however, that a particularly large number of schoolchildren between the ages of five and 14 are currently being treated in hospital for respiratory diseases. In most age groups, however, the number of severe infections is currently low.