Public health officials in North Rhine-Westphalia are tracking seasonal respiratory pathogens as regional data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) details current transmission levels for COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus. According to the RKI figures, overall acute respiratory infection rates in the region stand at 2,300 per 100,000 residents for the 34th calendar week of 2026, marking an increase from the previous week’s estimate of 2,000.
COVID-19 Metrics and Regional Age Distribution
COVID-19 remains a monitored respiratory illness across North Rhine-Westphalia, with the RKI reporting a statewide 7-day incidence of 0.1 per 100,000 inhabitants as of August 28, 2026. Health authorities recorded 22 new coronavirus infections across the region during the preceding week. Age-stratified data shows the highest 7-day incidence at 0.7 in children aged zero to four years, accounting for 62 new cases out of 20.555 total historical infections in that demographic. Since the start of the pandemic, 8,231,290 labor-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been documented across North Rhine-Westphalia.
Influenza Activity and Acute Respiratory Infections
True influenza, distinct from general colds, registered 37 new cases in North Rhine-Westphalia during the 34th calendar week, resulting in an influenza incidence of 0.21 per 100,000 residents. Concurrently, broader acute respiratory infections (ARE)—defined by the RKI as new-onset conditions involving sore throat, cough, or fever—rose in the Central-West region encompassing North Rhine-Westphalia to 2,300 per 100,000 people. Meanwhile, influenza-like illnesses (ILI), which specifically require a fever alongside respiratory symptoms, remained steady at an estimated incidence of 300 per 100,000 inhabitants, matching the national average for Germany.
RSV Surveillance and Surveillance Methodology
Infectious disease tracking also covers the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a pathogen affecting both young children and older adults. According to RKI data, North Rhine-Westphalia recorded 4 new lab-confirmed RSV cases in the 33rd calendar week, yielding an incidence of 0.02 per 100,000 residents. This follows a peak earlier in the year during the 9th calendar week of 2026, when weekly cases reached 892. Regional estimates for acute and influenza-like illnesses are derived from voluntary self-reports submitted by participants via the RKI’s GrippeWeb online portal, which gathered entries from 3,146 individuals in the Central-West region during the 34th calendar week.
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