Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Aug 06, 2024 1 month, 1 week, 3 days, 17 hours, 17 minutes ago
COVID-19 News: Rising Respiratory Illnesses
The activity of acute respiratory illnesses (ARE) in Germany still remains at worrisome levels in the 30th epidemiological week of 2024, according to the latest report from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
https://influenza.rki.de/Wochenberichte.aspx
https://influenza.rki.de/Wochenberichte/2023_2024/2024-30.pdf
Respiratory infections including COVID-19 still at worrisome levels in Germany
In terms of outpatient services however, the number of doctor visits due to ARE decreased slightly compared to the previous week. The National Reference Centre for Influenza identified respiratory viruses in 39 of 73 sentinel samples, with rhinoviruses and SARS-CoV-2 being the most common.
It is interesting to note that no mainstream media in Germany has been reporting on any
COVID-19 News coverages with regards to the situation in Germany for the last few weeks.
Virological Surveillance
In the 30th week, the primary viruses detected were rhinoviruses (23%) and SARS-CoV-2 (18%), followed by parainfluenza viruses (PIV; 7%), adenoviruses (4%), human metapneumoviruses (hMPV; 3%), and human seasonal coronaviruses (hCoV; 1%). No influenza or respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) were found during this period.
Hospital Surveillance
The incidence of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) showed a very slight decline in the 30th week of 2024. The report shows that COVID-19 diagnoses has slightly increased. Currently 11% of SARI cases test positive for COVID-19. Overall, the number of reported COVID-19 cases has only slightly increased compared to the previous weeks.
The weekly incidence of SARI cases in hospitals has been stable since mid-May, with a very slight decline starting from the 27th week. The SARI incidence remained low, particularly among children, young adults, and individuals aged 35-59 years. In the 30th week, 11% of SARI cases had a COVID-19 diagnosis. Intensive care units reported a stable, low incidence of COVID-19 cases.
COVID-19 in the Population
Based on data from the GrippeWeb participants, the estimated COVID-19 incidence is around 800 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
There are currently about 3.7 million cases of acute respiratory illnesses in the population, higher than in most previous seasons for this time of year.
Sentinel Surveillance Insights
The ARE consultation incidence in the 30th week was around 800 doctor visits per 100,000 inhabitants, translating to approximately 670,000 doctor visits nationwide. The number of consultations decreased across all age groups.
Virological Analysis
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The virological sentinel surveillance identified respiratory viruses in 53% of the submitted samples, predominantly rhinoviruses and SARS-CoV-2. Influenza and RSV were not detected. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 was mainly among patients aged 15 and older, while rhinoviruses were detected across nearly all age groups.
SARS-CoV-2 Variants
The report highlighted the ongoing genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants. The data on circulating variants is updated weekly and available on the RKI dashboard. The various KP variants are the predominating variants at the moment.
Wastewater Monitoring
The aggregated SARS-CoV-2 viral load in wastewater remained at high levels in the 30th week, with data from 130 wastewater treatment plants. This monitoring provides an additional perspective on the viral load in the population.
Additional Information
For detailed data and updates on COVID-19, influenza, and RSV infections in Germany, the RKI provides comprehensive resources and dashboards, which are updated regularly. These include incidence rates, genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants, and hospital capacity reports.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 situation in Germany remains worrisome despite no significant increases in hospitalizations or ICU admission. Continuous monitoring and adherence to preventive measures are essential to manage the situation effectively. It is also predicted based on current figures and trends from last years that Germany will face a very troubling winter this year in terms of COVID-19.
For the latest COVID-19 News updates, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-covid-19-flirt-strain-emerges-in-ukraine
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/south-korea-s-covid-19-hospitalizations-skyrocket-in-july
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