Dresden/Chemnitz (dpa/sn) - In Saxony, 136 cases of flu were registered in the first two weeks of October. The activity of acute respiratory diseases is relatively high for the time of year, also because influenza, corona and rhinoviruses circulate at the same time, as the state investigation institute (LUA) found in its latest weekly report. After two mild flu winters, experts expected a strong wave again, since the population had not had to deal with the virus for a long time and had less immune protection, as a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Social Affairs announced on Monday in Dresden.
According to the LUA report, all those affected so far were unvaccinated against influenza, most of whom were between the ages of 10 to 14 and 25 to 49. Nine people had to be treated in the hospital, including an 18-month-old girl from the Zwickau district. Compared to the first week of October, the number of cases has more than doubled. At the beginning of the season, 59 infections were reported, mainly among young people.
Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) also called for flu vaccinations four weeks ago because of the "worryingly low vaccination rate" of less than 30 percent. This is particularly important in the ongoing corona pandemic, in order to avoid bottlenecks in intensive care beds and ventilation places and to ensure care in daycare centers, schools and nursing homes. Köpping also appealed to prevent the transmission of influenza and other infectious agents by wearing a mouth and nose protector, maintaining distances and hand hygiene.
