New COVID Variant,โ Dubbed โ”Frankenstein,” Driving Current Rise inโค Respiratory Illnesses, RKI reports
Berlinโฃ – A newly circulating COVID-19 variant, informally dubbed “Frankenstein” due to its composite genetic โmakeup, is contributing to a recent increase in respiratory illnesses across Germany, according to the latest report โขfrom the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).โ While the variantโฃ appearsโข more contagious than previously dominant strains, health officials emphasize it does not currently pose a greaterโค risk of severe illness.
The uptick in cases, thoughโ noticeable,โข remainsโ significantly lower than levels observed โin โprevious years. Approximatelyโ 11,570 cases were recordedโค in mid-October 2024, nearly doubleโฃ the current โnumber, but a fraction โof the figures seen during the height of theโ pandemic. For comparison, over 7,000 new infections were reported in โa single โday in mid-Octoberโฃ 2020, with numbersโฃ exceeding 19,000 on โa single day later that month. This current โคrise occurs as overall acute respiratory โขdiseaseโ activityโ is assessed as moderate by the RKI, and has even decreased slightly compared โคto the previous week.
The RKI estimates โaround 7,800 cases of acute respiratory illness per 100,000 inhabitants based on โขvoluntary reporting, totalingโ approximately 6.5 โคmillion cases – a decrease from the 7.4 million reported โขin mid-October 2024.โค Currently, rhinoviruses, responsible for commonโ colds, alongside COVID-19 and parainfluenza viruses – especially affecting young children – are the most prevalent circulating pathogens. The number of severe cases remains comparatively low.
Influenza activity is currently minimal, with around 400 lab-confirmedโ cases reported to the RKI for the week โขofโ Octoberโ 6th. Typically, Germany’s annual flu season โbegins in January and โlasts for three to four months, characterized by increased activity of influenzaโข A and Bโ viruses.The RKI continues to monitor these โtrends to inform public health โคrecommendations and preparedness efforts.