A SARS-CoV-2 Omicron outbreak among crew members on a cruise ship in Germany in early 2022.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks on cruise ships have rarely been investigated. In early 2022, we were informed about a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak on a cruise ship calling Port of Hamburg after 10 infections among crew members were detected. We conducted an outbreak investigation in collaboration between ship owners, the ship physician and Hamburg's Institute for Hygiene and Environment, to identify risk factors and to achieve containment.

The influence of gender on COVID-19 infections and mortality in Germany: Insights from age- and gender-specific modeling of contact rates, infections, and deaths in the early phase of the pandemic.

Recent research points towards age- and gender-specific transmission of COVID-19 infections and their outcomes. The effect of gender, however, has been overlooked in past modelling approaches of COVID-19 infections. The aim of our study is to explore how gender-specific contact behavior affects gender-specific COVID-19 infections and deaths.

Potential of prevention strategies for the modifiable risk factor type 2 diabetes with relation to the future number of dementia patients in Germany- a multi-state projection through 2040.

Background: We assess the impact of prevention strategies regarding type 2 diabetes as a modifiable risk factor for dementia and its consequences for the future number of dementia patients in Germany.

Methods: We used a random sample of health claims data (N = 250,000) of insured persons aged 50+ drawn in 2014, and data on population size and death rates in 2015 from the Human Mortality Database. Using exponential hazard models, we calculated age- and sex-specific transition probabilities and death rates between the states (no diabetes/no dementia, diabetes/no dementia, no diabetes/dementia, diabetes/dementia).