The early and massive flu outbreak continued to decline in the first week after the Christmas break. However, the number of infections was still relatively high, according to data from Vienna. With 13,150 new cases, this is a similar number to the peak of the last flu wave before the corona pandemic in the 2019/2020 season.
The peak of the current wave was reached in Vienna in the week before Christmas (week 50) with almost 34,000 calculated flu infections and flu illnesses. After that, the new infections initially fell slightly at a high level and after the turn of the year from 31,000 to 18,500 (week 1) sharply.
For two years, measures to contain the coronavirus had pushed back the flu. This winter, however, allowed several viruses to circulate almost unrestrictedly and also exceeded the strong cold spell of 2016/17, when it was estimated that almost 20,000 cases of flu and flu-like illnesses in Vienna were at their peak.
The incidence at seven days decreased
The Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) also reported a drop across Austria for the previous week. The seven-day incidence (number of new cases within a week) of “true” flu and flu-like illnesses fell from week 1 to week 2 from an extrapolated 3,000 to 2,850 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. As in Vienna, Austria as a whole peaked at week 50 with an incidence of 5850 cases. Now, the positive percentage of samples tested for flu dropped from 46 to 23 percent in a weekly comparison.
More than 1000 flu deaths per year
Every year, an average of 15 out of 100,000 people in Austria die from the flu. According to the Ministry of Health, this equates to more than 1,000 deaths per year. However, the number varies greatly depending on the virus variant. In the last major flu wave in 2016/17, the number of fatalities was estimated at more than 4,000 according to AGES data. 90 percent of those who die from flu are the elderly and children, for whom vaccination is also highly recommended.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
