Influenza continues to spread in Austria
The strong wave of influenza still has Austria under control. On Wednesday, the Center for Virology at MedUni Vienna reported “continued high influenza virus activity” based on the figures from the previous week. Due to the holidays, there were fewer samples sent in, but the positive rate was a high 46 percent. Influenza vaccination is still recommended, especially for the elderly and children. Fatal cases of influenza have already been reported in children this season, as in other years.
In Upper Austria there were two deaths in children in connection with the “real” flu (influenza). In addition, according to a broadcast from the Kepler University Hospital in Linz on Monday, there are dangerous secondary diseases. An affected child is in acute danger of death due to heart muscle inflammation, others suffer from brain inflammation or Guillain-Barré syndrome (acute ascending paralysis) as a result of the flu.
“It’s not too late for preventive care this winter either,” emphasized pediatrician Rudolf Schmitzberger, head of the department for vaccination matters at the Austrian Medical Association. It is a catastrophe that children have died as a result of influenza infections or are in mortal danger with myocardia, as is currently the case in Upper Austria: “This is particularly bitter against the background that in Austria there are still sufficient nasal vaccines for children are available,” he emphasized in a broadcast.
The free influenza vaccination can be given from the age of six months, from the age of two to 15 the vaccine is given by means of a nasal spray. “It’s a simple and completely painless way to protect children,” said Schmitzberger. “Paediatricians and family doctors are the first people to contact here, who vaccinate quickly. The vaccine is very accurate this season against the currently widespread influenza viruses, the expert assured.
On average, 15 out of 100,000 people in Austria die of influenza every year. According to the Ministry of Health, this corresponds to more than 1,000 deaths per year. However, the number varies greatly depending on the virus variant. In the last major wave of influenza in 2016/17, the death toll was estimated at more than 4,000, according to data from the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES). In the past two winters, there were no flu outbreaks due to the corona measures.
The most recently published Austrian vaccination plan 2023 warns against influenza and recommends vaccination to avoid severe cases, including hospitalization and death. Babies, small children, pregnant women, the chronically ill and the elderly over the age of 60 are at risk of serious illnesses: more than 60 percent of all influenza-associated hospitalizations and around 90 percent of deaths are in the elderly and children age groups.
(SERVICE – Weekly flu data – MedUni: www.influenza.at – AGE: http://go.apa.at/89FOW2OP -City vienna: http://go.apa.at/3eLAQQaS)