Germany sniffles and coughs. If you are not affected yourself, you know someone who is. Which viruses are these? The RKI report provides information.
Autumn is cold season. But since 2020, one word – and sometimes still a fear – has always resonated: SARS-CoV2. The Robert Koch Institute explains which viruses are currently circulating in its weekly report on “acute respiratory diseases”, i.e. respiratory diseases.
Accordingly, it is estimated that almost one in nine Germans (7.4 million) currently suffers from a respiratory disease. The number has increased slightly compared to the previous week and corresponds to an incidence of 8,800 per 100,000 inhabitants. The group of people over 60 years of age is currently particularly affected, as their frequent infections mainly lead to an increase in the overall number.
According to the RKI, it is primarily rhinoviruses that make up the majority of infections (30 percent), followed by SARS-Cov2 (22 percent) and then – by far – other typical cold pathogens such as parainfluenza, adeno and influenza viruses. All of these pathogens cause flu-like symptoms such as sore throats, headaches, body aches, coughs and fever. They are usually transmitted through droplet infection in direct contact with people; for some, a smear infection is also possible, i.e. transmission via contaminated hands or objects.
The number of corona infections has increased compared to the previous week. According to the report, the KP.3.1.1 subline currently dominates the infection rate with 41 percent, followed by the XEC variant (27 percent).
Both are subvariants of the omicron lineage of the virus. XEC in particular seems to be even more contagious than the previous variants. By changing the spike protein, it can apparently bind better to human cells and is therefore more infectious.
Typical symptoms remain fever, runny nose, cough and sore throat, but also headaches and body aches. Loss of the sense of taste and smell is also reported. However, there is no increase in the severity of the disease with these variants; they remain typical colds.
However, these can also be dangerous for older people and/or those with previous illnesses and immunocompromised people. The Standing Vaccination Commission recommends that everyone over 60 years of age be vaccinated against corona and flu, as well as residents of nursing homes, immunocompromised people and those with previous illnesses, nursing staff and people who care for a family member.