Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Sep 20, 2025 3 hours, 18 minutes ago
Medical News: Respiratory Illnesses on the Rise
Germany is seeing a noticeable increase in acute respiratory illnesses as the autumn season begins. Data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) shows that across week 37 of 2025, outpatient visits for mild respiratory issues climbed, while hospitalizations for severe acute respiratory infections remained relatively low. This
Medical News report indicates that although many Germans are seeking medical help for coughs, sore throats, and fevers, the majority of cases do not progress to critical illness requiring intensive treatment.
SARS-CoV-2 Variant XFG Driving Rise in COVID-19 Cases Across Germany
At the same time, surveillance samples collected from medical practices reveal that rhinoviruses and parainfluenza viruses are circulating widely. These seasonal viruses often gain momentum once schools resume and colder weather keeps people indoors. The continuing low levels of influenza and RSV cases suggest that the surge in infections is still being driven primarily by non-influenza respiratory pathogens, with COVID-19 gradually contributing more to the national caseload.
Rising COVID-19 Numbers
The RKI recorded 2,396 new laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in week 37, up from 2,153 the previous week. Although this increase may seem moderate compared to the peaks of earlier pandemic years, epidemiologists caution that trends consistently moving upward reflect an expanding spread of the virus.
Importantly, wastewater surveillance confirms this rise in COVID-19 activity, though the pace of increase appears to have slowed slightly compared to August.
Health authorities are monitoring this upward trend closely as the country heads into autumn and winter, when the combination of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV could potentially create pressure on healthcare resources. The RKI emphasizes that while the current increases are manageable, vigilance is essential to catch early signs of coinciding viral waves.
Stratus Variant Now Dominant
A significant finding is the dominance of a new recombinant SARS-CoV-2 lineage, named XFG or “Stratus.” According to genomic sequencing, this variant accounts for 84 percent of samples analyzed between weeks 34 and 35, a sharp increase from just 65 percent of cases a few weeks earlier. The World Health Organization has noted that Stratus appears to spread more efficiently than previous strains, though it has not been linked to more severe illness.
Doctors claim that symptoms linked to Stratus remain mild in most cases, resembling common cold features such as sore throat, nasal congestion, and mild fever. This reflects a broader trend seen worldwide where existing population immunity—whether from vaccination or prior infection—helps reduce the severity of outcomes even as new variants emerge.
Expert Perspectives and Public Health Response
German physician and medical journalist Christoph Specht has emphasized that the current situation is not comparable to t
he frightening early pandemic waves. He highlighted that immunity across the population is stronger, and the symptoms being reported are largely mild. Specht further added that September increases in infections are expected as weather cools, indoor gatherings increase, and seasonal viruses return.
Hospitals remain stable, but experts warn that health systems must stay alert. If influenza and RSV begin circulating heavily alongside COVID-19, the combined effect could be more challenging. Preventive measures such as masking in crowded indoor spaces and regular hand hygiene are being advised for higher-risk groups, though officials stress that there is no need for public panic.
Conclusion
Germany’s latest data shows that respiratory infections, especially COVID-19, are once again on the rise, with the Stratus variant now firmly established as the dominant strain. While the numbers are far from overwhelming, the steady growth signals that the virus remains an active threat, particularly as the colder months approach. The resilience of healthcare systems, combined with population immunity, offers reassurance, but experts underline the importance of continued monitoring and precautions to minimize the risk of simultaneous viral surges.
The latest RKI’s Acute Respiratory Diseases (ARE) report for week 37 can be found here:
https://www.rki.de/DE/Themen/Infektionskrankheiten/Akute-respiratorische-Erkrankungen/ARE-Bericht/are-bericht-node.html
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
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