Influenza wave meets Schärding: intensive care unit full, help urgently needed!

Influenza wave meets Schärding: intensive care unit full, help urgently needed!

Schärding, Österreich - in Schärding, Upper Austria, the flu numbers have risen alarming. Thomas Bamberger, the doctor in the Department of Internal Medicine, reports on a stressful situation: Eight patients currently have to be treated for flu, including a 72-year-old woman in the intensive care unit. It is worrying that four of the patients rely on oxygen. Bamberger explains that the flu infections have increased significantly compared to the previous year, which also becomes clear in other hospitals such as in Freistadt and Linz, as ORF reported.

increasing number of patients and preventive measures

The hospitals continue to record enough capacities for additional patients despite the increasing number of flu cases. The most common symptoms of influenza, which among other things hit older people, are fever, cough and body aches. Bamberger warns that if there is any signs of lack of oxygen, a doctor should be contacted at home. He also recommends a flu shot to avoid severe courses that are still useful.

In addition, the collection of data on acute respiratory diseases (are) by the Robert Koch Institute is crucial for public health. This data is necessary to understand the population's disease burden and take preventive measures, as explained in the current FAQs of the RKI. Laboratory findings about flu viruses in particular are subject to reporting, which means that doctors and health authorities have to work closely together in order to quickly spread information about outbreaks, such as the current in hospitals, and to take suitable measures.