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According to the RKI, around nine million people in Germany are suffering from an acute respiratory infection (symbol image)
Photo: Nikish Hiraman/Getty Images
After two years of Christmas under pandemic conditions, many had hoped for more relaxed holidays this year.
However, the flu epidemic and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), among other things, are now leading to a high number of respiratory diseases.
The corona virus is also getting involved.
A total of around nine million people in Germany are suffering from an acute respiratory infection, as reported by the Influenza Working Group of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in its report last week.
Accordingly, many will probably have to stay in bed instead of sitting contemplatively under the tree.
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After all, the level of diseases has fallen slightly compared to the previous week, reports the RKI.
This is due to a decreasing number of illnesses in children up to 14 years of age.
On the other hand, it increased in the age groups from 35 years.
Overall, the spread of acute respiratory diseases is still well above the level of previous years at the peak of severe flu waves, the RKI reports.
There are still many difficult courses.
Data has been estimated using citizen responses and includes milder respiratory conditions.
The majority of the samples sent to the RKI by certain medical practices contained the influenza virus, followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) .
Only a very small proportion contained the Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus.
The nationwide corona incidence has increased again slightly in the past week, as the RKI reports in its Corona weekly report.
The value increased in the week ended December 18 by eleven percent compared to the previous week.
The incidence had already increased slightly in the two previous weeks.
The number of Covid diseases is currently increasing in the group of older adults, while children and younger adults are mainly affected by influenza and RSV infections.
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Streptococci and pneumococci on the rise
In its current report, the RKI also refers to an increase in bacterial infections of the respiratory tract: "The number of group A streptococcal infections and pneumococcal infections is expected to continue to increase," says the weekly report.
»This represents an additional challenge for the healthcare system.«
The RKI reported that around 2.3 million people had consulted a doctor for an acute respiratory disease in the third week of December.
This number is also above average.
The high numbers are also noticeable in the general practitioners' practices: "The workload that general practitioners and their practice teams currently have to handle is comparable to that during the peak of the corona pandemic," said Nicola Buhlinger-Göpfarth, deputy federal chairman of the German General Practitioners' Association.
In addition, there were staff absences due to illness.
»You have to say clearly: the colleagues are working at their breaking point.«
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The services provided to care for patients with influenza, corona or the RS virus would have to be paid for additionally.
"We urgently need immediate measures to relieve and strengthen general practitioner care, comparable to those taken by politicians during the corona pandemic," said the Federal Chairman of the General Practitioners' Association, Markus Beier.
Not too late for vaccination
In view of the high number of patients, it should also be possible at short notice for children to report sick for at least three days without a medical certificate.
The association also calls for an adjustment to the current situation for sick leave by telephone – it must be remunerated at the same rate as a sick leave after a personal visit to the practice.
"The measures we propose would have a short-term effect and noticeably reduce the burden in the practices," said Buhlinger-Göpfarth.
In general, it is not too late for a vaccination in this wave of flu to protect against a severe course, said Buhlinger-Göpfarth.
If you want, you can still get vaccinated at short notice.
According to the RKI, it takes 10 to 14 days for vaccination protection to be fully established.
mar/kry/dpa
