Politics Significantly more visits to the doctor due to flu symptoms
In Switzerland, the number of visits to the doctor for flu-like illnesses rose sharply last week. 17,850 people visited a doctor because of a sudden high fever and cough or sore throat.
22.01.2025, 13:01
22.01.2025, 16:31
SDA
This is over 13 percent more than in the previous week, according to figures published by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) on Wednesday. Such a high figure was never reached last year. Extrapolated to the population, this corresponds to around 200 consultations due to flu-like illness per 100,000 inhabitants.
The number of confirmed flu cases, on the other hand, has fallen compared to the previous week. In the week from January 13 to 19, 350 fewer cases of influenza were reported to the FOPH than in the previous week: 1988. This corresponds to 22.08 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Previously, the number of flu cases had risen sharply over several weeks.
Flu in the range of last season
In its assessment of the situation, however, the FOPH continues to speak of high flu activity. "Both the mandatory laboratory reports and the Sentinella reporting system as well as wastewater show a high level of influenza activity," according to the communicable diseases information portal. RSV, a common virus that can lead to respiratory infections, is also still circulating in the population.
According to Walter Zingg, Head Physician at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene at the University Hospital Zurich (USZ), the flu season as a whole is similar to last year. "So far, wastewater screening for influenza A and RSV is in line with last season, but influenza B activity is significantly higher," he told the Keystone-SDA news agency when asked.
Covid-19 wave on the wane
Among inpatients at the USZ, no changes have been observed so far compared to last season, neither in terms of the number of patients with a positive flu test nor in terms of the severity or duration of the illness. "Only in the case of pneumococci, a bacterium that can lead to complications from the flu, have we had more severe cases than in previous years - but the total number of patients was the same as last season," said the doctor.
The Covid-19 wave, on the other hand, is subsiding. Wastewater monitoring, the mandatory reporting system and the Sentinella reporting system have been showing a downward trend in SARS-CoV-2 infections for several weeks. According to Zingg, coronavirus activity in general is also significantly lower this year than a year ago.
