Significantly fewer coronavirus cases at the start of the flu season

At the beginning of the flu season, coronavirus cases are far below the level of 2024. Among the respiratory pathogens, the SARS-CoV-2 virus currently dominates the incidence of infection, according to a report on the week from September 29 to October 5 by the State Institute for Health and Veterinary Investigation (LUA). However, at 258, the number of cases is 2.5 times lower than at the same time last year.

In just under a third of cases, the age group 65 years and older was affected. Most infections were registered in Leipzig (42). There were the fewest cases in the Erzgebirgskreis (4). However, a 77-year-old man died there as a result of a Covid infection. According to the LUA, he also suffered from other illnesses. In 2024, there were two coronavirus deaths in the first week of the flu season in Saxony.

Respiratory illnesses at expected level

The season officially lasts from the 40th to the 17th calendar week. This year, it began on 29 September and ends on 26 April 2026. In weekly reports, the LUA summarizes the infection incidence of the acute respiratory pathogens influenza, respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) and the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 during this time.

With a slight increase in the 40th calendar week, the infection incidence in Saxony as well as nationwide is at an expected level for the season, according to the LUA. Influenza and RSV infections have hardly been reported so far (17 and 3 cases respectively).

A total of 430 deaths in the 2024/2025 season

According to the LUA statistics, 44,428 cases of influenza were registered nationwide in the past flu season, as well as 15,369 coronavirus infections and 7,933 RSV infections. A total of 430 people between the ages of 6 and 99 died, most of them from a SARS-CoV-2 infection (224), 192 from influenza and 14 from RSV - exclusively older adults.