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The Corona situation is currently relatively stable. However, there are signs of an increase in the number of infections. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, sewage treatment plants reported slightly to sharply increasing numbers as early as the end of August. Coronavirus loads in wastewater. Im Infection radar of the Ministry of Health many arrows indicate an upward trend.
The current report from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) states: The number of Covid-19 cases reported to the RKI has continued to rise slightly compared to the previous week. In wastewater monitoring, a slight increase in the Sars-CoV-2 viral load has been observed since the beginning of August 2024 ( current weekly report for week 36 ).
The estimated Covid-19 incidence in the population (based on GrippeWeb participants) increased slightly compared to the previous week and was around 1,000 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (previous week: 800).
The autumn wave is approaching
“Last year we already had a high incidence of infections in late summer and autumn. That seems to be happening again now,” says Ulf Dittmer, Director of the Institute of Virology at Essen University Hospital, when asked by FOCUS online, and explains: “After an infection, you are obviously only protected from the next infection for a few months, so that many people can now become infected again .“
The increase in the number of infections is still within the range of fluctuations over the summer, says Timo Ulrichs, virologist and specialist in microbiology and infectious disease epidemiologist, assessing the current corona situation. “The development corresponds to the endemic situation: the coronavirus is still there and can spread in new sub-variants in waves,” explains the expert.
In contrast to the pandemic period, however, we have seen little or no increase in hospitalization rates and the occupancy of intensive care beds with Covid-19 patients. Ulrichs adds: “A The autumn wave could still be imminent, and the new fitness of the subvariant KP.3.1.1 could also contribute to this .“
Which variants currently circulating are driving the autumn wave?
The following variants are currently circulating in Germany and are classified as variants of interest (VOI) by the World Health Organization (WHO):
Under observation (VUM, variants under monitoring):
- JN.1.7
- KP.2
- KP.3
- KP.3.1.1
- JN.1.18
- LB.1
“The FLiRT variants are good at evading our antibody response. That is why they can cause infections despite an existing antibody response against the virus,” explains Dittmer. Nevertheless, the virologist reassures: “In the vast majority of cases, our T-cell immunity prevents severe disease from occurring.”
What role does the new variant KP.3.1.1 play?
The proportion of KP.3.1.1 has increased in the RKI monitoring in recent weeks. A recent study published in “The Lancet“, sheds light on how much more infectious the new Corona variant has become.
“The variant can evade the antibody response even better than the previous FLiRT variants,” explains virologist Dittmer. It is also obviously more infectious. “This suggests that this variant will prevail and can trigger new waves of infection.”
Ulrichs KP.3.1.1 makes a similar assessment: “The studies on this new subvariant of JN.1 show that the mutations have given the virus a higher reproduction number and thus a higher fitness to spread.” At the same time, the defense after vaccination is somewhat worse than against the other subvariants.
However, due to the good (herd) immunity in the population, it can be assumed that this sub-variant will not lead to dramatic increases in hospital admissions or intensive care bed occupancy.
The symptoms of KP.3 and how to protect yourself
In case of infection with a FLiRT variant of the coronavirus, such as KP.3 and KP.3.1.1, classic corona symptoms appear such as:
- Fever
- chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Atemprobleme
- Loss of smell and taste
- fatigue
- Gastrointestinal problems
When does a test for Corona make sense?
“Whenever you have symptoms, a test makes sense,” says Ulf Dittmer. If the result is positive, you should try to protect others from infection, for example by wearing a mouth and nose mask or by staying at home. He adds: “At-risk patients with a severely compromised immune system should then see a doctor.”
The experts also remind everyone that they should remain sensitive. Ulrichs says the test makes sense, for example, if a visit to members of risk groups is planned.
Do the tests detect the new variants?
“So you shouldn’t use test batches that have expired,” explains Christoph Lübbert, chief physician of the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at the St. Georg Hospital in Leipzig, in “Mittagsmagazin” of the ARD But what has been produced in recent months and is now being sold “also responds to the new FLiRT variants, these new sublines of Corona”.
Who should get vaccinated?
So far, there is no evidence that the current variants cause more severe cases. However, risk groups should continue to be cautious and get vaccinated. For older people, those with chronic illnesses and those with weak immune systems, an infection, regardless of the variant, can still be serious.
The Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stiko) continues to advise risk groups and all people over 60 to receive an annual booster vaccination with a variant adaptation currently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Tried and tested protective measures such as
- Keep your distance
- Masks indoors
- regular hand washing
help reduce the risk of infection.
