Respiratory infections at record levels
More sick leave than in five years
© terovesalainen / Adobe Stock
News in April that moves us: New record for respiratory diseases
The most important news in the BRIGITTE ticker
What moves the world? What moves the BRIGITTE editors? In this ticker we summarize the most important news in April for you.
April 14, 2023
Record numbers of sick leave due to respiratory infections
The number of people on sick leave due to respiratory infections in the first quarter of this year was the highest in five years. This is the result of an evaluation by the Barmer health insurance company’s Institute for Health System Research, as the editorial network Germany (RND) writes.
In the first three months of the current year, an average of 368 per 10,000 Barmer policyholders were unable to work due to respiratory diseases such as corona, flu or other infections. Compared to the beginning of 2021, this value has quadrupled. At that time, an average of 98 out of 10,000 insured persons reported sick with such infections.
Even compared to 2018, when an unusually strong flu epidemic was rampant, the numbers are higher this year. At that time the rate was 300 per 10,000 insured persons per week. The currently high number of infections is generally attributed to catch-up effects as a result of the corona pandemic, during which our immune system was not trained.
Even more news
That was the news in March 2023.
Sources used: RND