Infection wave overruns the country – salzburg.ORF.at
Health
A wave of cold infections has been sweeping the country for a few weeks. The hospitals are getting more and more to the limit. The Salzburg state clinics have now even been able to postpone operations.
On the one hand, the number of influenza cases had increased sharply, on the other hand the cases of the RS virus, which mainly affects children. Since the beginning of the wave at the end of November, 470 children have tested positive, said SALK Managing Director Paul Sungler – and this is now having an impact on hospital operations: “This means that operational areas with elective operations patients have to be postponed. But I don’t see any danger for acute emergency operations at the moment.”
No relaxation of the situation in sight
Sungler added: “Personally, I believe that the infection, especially RSV, which is also relevant for children, has already reached adults. So I don’t think there will be much relaxation over the holidays.”
The situation also remains tense in pediatric practices. Pediatrician Holger Förster, who treats up to 100 young patients a day in his practice: “This is unusual because many viruses come at once. Not just influenza, not just RSV, we have other viruses, we have strep, angina, scarlet fever and all of that fueling each other.”
Christmas holidays as a “mini lockdown”
Förster now sees relaxation over the Christmas holidays: “when all the children are at home and can no longer meet so well and no longer exchange their germs. A ‘mini lockdown’ that will hopefully give us relaxation in the two weeks.”