Halle (dpa/sa) - The flu wave is increasing sharply in Saxony-Anhalt. Since the beginning of September, a total of 5967 cases of influenza have been reported to the State Office for Consumer Protection (as of December 6, 2022). Before the start of the corona pandemic, there were only 56 cases of influenza in the same period in 2019, as the State Office for Consumer Protection announced in Halle on Thursday. School children in particular are currently suffering from the flu.
It is to be expected that the influenza virus infections will also spread to other age groups in the coming weeks, the state office said. These included preschool children and adults, including so-called vulnerable groups such as older people and people with previous illnesses. According to the authority, it must be expected that the number of patients who have to be admitted to hospital for treatment for influenza will increase.
Influenza usually starts suddenly with fever, cough or sore throat, body aches or headaches and a general feeling of weakness. However, untypical symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea can also occur. The safest protection against influenza is vaccination, the state office said.
