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Influenza in Germany

After Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, and Italy) and Western Europe (France, Belgium, and Switzerland) the annual wave of influenza has now reached Germany. According to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Influenza (AGI, Influenza Working Committee) of the Robert Koch-Institute the number of people coming down with influenza increased considerably during the last couple of days.

The so-called positives rate – share of throat swabs with influenza viruses, which are examined by the National Reference Centre (NRZ) – is the indicator for a commencing wave of influenza. The threshold value corresponds to a positives rate of 20 %. In Germany, the current positives rate is 46 %.

Aggressive subtype
In 92 % of the cases, the influenza A virus subtype H3 is held responsible for the wave of influenza. A subtype that is estimated to be more virulent than the likewise circulating subtype H1 or than the influenza B virus. Last year, the latter caused the influenza-typical acute respiratory diseases (ARD), such as pharyngitis, bronchitis, or pneumonia with or without fever. Sudden fever, headache, muscle pain, and a dry throat belong to the early symptoms of influenza.

Disinfection details
After having survived on inanimate surfaces for 24 hours, the virus can – in case of transmission to hands – remain infectious for another 24 hours. Influenza viruses belong to the enveloped viruses and are rather easy to inactivate with a chemical disinfectant, which features a ‘virucidal activity against enveloped viruses’. Only in case of officially ordered decontaminations products with ‘virucidal’ activity – from the disinfectants list of the Robert Koch-Institute (efficacy spectrum B for viruses) – are to be used for influenza viruses.

BODE disinfectant recommendation
For a prophylactic disinfection of hands and surfaces: Sterillium®, Sterillium® Virugard, Bacillol® AF, Mikrobac® forte, and Dismozon® pur as well as all other virucidal disinfectants with virucidal activity against enveloped viruses.

Further information on influenza:

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Influenza (Influenza Working Committee) of the Robert Koch-Institute
http://influenza.rki.de

European Influenza Surveillance Scheme
www.eiss.org

(Last update: February 2007)