Flu wave 2025: Alert rising cases in Baden-Württemberg!

In Baden-Württemberg, a flu wave is emerging at the beginning of 2025. The State Health Office has registered a significant increase in influenza cases. In the first two weeks of the new year, 1,592 influenza cases were reported, an increase compared to the previous year, when only 1,058 cases were registered in the same period, which meant a decline by a third. It should be noted that not all infected medical help take advantage of.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) also reports an increase in flu numbers in Germany, which indicates a start of the flu wave. This is usually considered heralded if influenza A or B viruses are detected in every fifth patient sample. Flu waves usually occur in January and last three to four months. The course of the flu season can be influenced by virus subtypes and the immunity of the population.

health recommendations and vaccinations

Minister of Health Manne Lucha recommends flu shot as important protection. The current seasonal influenza vaccine offers protection against the widespread viruses and vaccination also makes sense at the beginning of the flu wave. Vaccinations can be carried out in medical practices and pharmacies, while the costs for this are covered by the statutory health insurance companies.

The RKI also reports that the number of reported influenza cases has increased continuously since the beginning of December. While around 1,220 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases were registered in the week of December 2, there were already around 4,560 cases in the week of December 30th. The number of hospital admissions with flu diagnosis has also increased: in the week of December 2, they were around 18%, while in the week of December 30, about 27% of patients had to go to the hospital. So far, 40 deaths have been reported in the 2024/25 season in connection with influenza, 80% of those affected were 60 years or older.

The ideal time for flu vaccination is between October and mid -December, but the RKI recommends catching up even after a failed vaccination during the flu wave. After vaccination, the body needs about 10 to 14 days to build up sufficient protection. An increase in cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was also observed, with 967 cases in the week of December 30 compared to 430 cases at the beginning of the month.

For further details about the current flu wave in Baden-Württemberg and Germany, see Stuttgarter news and Pharmacies Umschau .