Hib outbreak in Hamburg: Who is the infection dangerous for?

HIB infections spread out in Germany: In Hamburg, experts observe a outbreak of bacterial disease Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB) with 16 illnesses and three deaths so far. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), there is no reason to worry. Adults could be populated with HIB in the nasal throat, but healthy people are able to eliminate the pathogen, explained a RKI spokeswoman. One cannot speak of increased spread in Germany.

A HIB infection is often mild in healthy people. In people with a weakened immune system, an infection can take serious courses, for example in the form of pneumonia, meningitis or sepsis. A disease can be life -threatening within a few hours, as the RKI explains.

The outbreak in Hamburg mainly affects people who use drugs and people without a permanent residence. The patients often had to be treated intensive medicine, said a spokeswoman for the Hamburg social authority. Vaccinations would now be offered in two drug consumption rooms in Hamburg. “The aim is to achieve as many people as possible from the risk group mentioned, to produce immunity and thus prevent further infections.”

The disease is transmitted by droplets, coughing, sneezing or close contact. In the current outbreak, HIB could probably have been transmitted indirectly via cigarettes, smoke accessories, food cutlery and drug use utensils.

Nationwide, according to RKI, 27 cases have so far been reported this year until July 20. Last year 16 cases were sent to the institute in the same period, in 2023 there were 21 cases. There were a total of 33 illnesses and two deaths in 2024 in 2024 (both in Hamburg), in 2023 there were 35 illnesses and four deaths.

Invasive HIB diseases-i.e. cases in which the disease breaks-were among the rather rare reportable diseases in Germany. According to RKI, the consumption of drugs that are inhaled with a pipe, for example, is suspected as a risk factor. It is also conceivable that chronic previous illnesses, smoking or malnutrition could contribute to immune deficiency that promotes invasive HIB disease.

HIB vaccination is one of the standard vaccinations in infants in Germany. According to RKI, small children are usually affected by an invasive illness. From the age of five, they virtually no longer occur in healthy children.

Before the vaccination was introduced in 1990, HIB was a severe and often fatal childhood disease. In 2018, according to RKI, the vaccination rate for school beginners was 91.4 percent.

“With certain immune deficiency diseases, there is also a vaccination recommendation for adults,” it said. In old age, however, immune protection is usually sufficient. The permanent vaccination commission currently advises on adapting the recommendations if necessary, according to the RKI.