Travelling to Germany? Current flu activity

In Germany, the flu wave typically hits during the winter months. A pronounced rise usually begins in January and peaks in February or March. Duration and intensity vary considerably from year to year. Influenza viruses remain stable in cold temperatures and dry air, and people spend more time indoors in winter — ideal conditions for transmission.

True influenza usually differs from an ordinary cold in how abruptly it starts. Typical symptoms are high fever, a dry irritating cough, and pronounced body aches. A cold often creeps in with a runny nose, while flu can make people feel severely ill within hours. If the illness is severe or you belong to a risk group, a medical evaluation is advisable.

Surveillance in Germany is run by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the national public-health agency. It works on two tracks: sentinel doctors' practices record how many patients present with respiratory symptoms and submit samples for virological testing, while the GrippeWeb online portal collects data directly from the population. Together these streams capture both the pressure on primary care and illness that never reaches a doctor.

Protection rests on several pillars. Germany's vaccination authority (STIKO) recommends an annual flu shot, especially for older adults, people with chronic conditions, pregnant women, and healthcare workers. Regular hand-washing, keeping distance from clearly ill people, and ventilating indoor spaces all reduce transmission risk.

Every flu season is different. Differences come mainly from the circulating virus subtypes (for example influenza A or B) and from the population's level of immunity. Some years the wave arrives early and steeply; in others it is moderate and drawn-out. The surveillance systems signal early on whether activity is above or below the recent historical norm.