Respiratory Viral Infections Associated With Oktoberfest AttendanceMunichFluNCT07879781
Respiratory Viral Infections Following Oktoberfest Attendance
An observational study of Respiratory Viral Infections Associated With Oktoberfest Attendance, run by LMU Klinikum at 1 site in Germany.
Trial summary
The MunichFlu study is a prospective observational study investigating the incidence and etiology of respiratory viral infections following attendance at the Munich Oktoberfest, one of the world's largest mass gathering events. Participants will be recruited during the Oktoberfest after providing informed consent. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Respiratory Viral Infections Associated With Oktoberfest Attendance
- How many people
- 4,000 participants
- Where
- 1 siteGermany
- Study dates
- 19 Sep 2026to 31 Mar 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: The study population includes individuals attending the Munich Oktoberfest and control participants from Regensburg and Nuremberg, Germany. Participants will be followed prospectively to assess respiratory symptoms and respiratory viral infections after Oktoberfest attendance. Control cohorts will be used to account for seasonal variations in respiratory virus circulation.
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged ≥18 years attending the Munich Oktoberfest during the study period, or reside in one of the predefined control regions (Regensburg or Nuremberg) Ability to provide informed consent Willingness to complete the study questionnaire during follow-up
Who cannot join
- Refusal or inability to provide informed consent Inability to complete the follow-up questionnaire
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Germany1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
LMU University Hospital
München
Stefan Brunner, MD, +49 89 44000, Stefan.Brunner@med.uni-muenchen.de
About this study
Official title: Respiratory Viral Infections Following Oktoberfest Attendance: The MunichFlu Study
The MunichFlu study is a prospective observational study investigating the incidence and etiology of respiratory viral infections following attendance at the Munich Oktoberfest, one of the world's largest mass gathering events.
Participants will be recruited during the Oktoberfest after providing informed consent. One to two weeks after the end of the festival, participants will receive an online follow-up questionnaire collecting information on demographic characteristics, medical history, Oktoberfest attendance, and the occurrence of respiratory symptoms or other infectious illnesses after their visit.
Read more
Participants reporting symptoms suggestive of an acute respiratory infection will be offered an optional nasal and/or throat swab for molecular detection and identification of the causative respiratory virus. In parallel, wastewater samples will be collected at the Oktoberfest venue and analyzed for circulating respiratory viruses to assess environmental viral surveillance.
To account for seasonal variations in respiratory virus circulation, parallel population-based surveys will be conducted in the German cities of Regensburg and Nuremberg during the same study period. The combined epidemiological, virological, and environmental surveillance data will provide a comprehensive assessment of respiratory viral infections associated with Oktoberfest attendance.
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Oktoberfest Attendance Cohort | Participants attending Oktoberfest and followed prospectively for respiratory symptoms and viral infections after attendance. | |
| Regensburg Control Cohort | Participants from Regensburg surveyed during the same period to assess background seasonal respiratory virus circulation. | |
| Nuremberg Control Cohort | Participants from Nuremberg surveyed during the same period to assess background seasonal respiratory virus circulation. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Incidence of respiratory viral infections following Oktoberfest attendance
Proportion of participants developing symptoms of an acute respiratory infection within the follow-up period after Oktoberfest attendance, with optional molecular confirmation of respiratory viral pathogens.
Measured: 1-2 weeks after Oktoberfest attendance
Secondary outcomes (5)
Incidence of respiratory symptoms after Oktoberfest attendance
Occurrence and type of respiratory symptoms, including cough, sore throat, fever, nasal congestion, fatigue, and other symptoms suggestive of acute respiratory infection.
Measured: 1-2 weeks after Oktoberfest attendance
Identification of respiratory viral pathogens
Detection and identification of respiratory viruses from nasal and/or throat swabs collected from symptomatic participants using molecular diagnostic methods.
Measured: 1-2 weeks after Oktoberfest attendance
Spectrum of respiratory viruses detected in wastewater samples
Detection and characterization of respiratory viral pathogens in wastewater samples collected at the Oktoberfest venue during the festival period.
Measured: During Oktoberfest
Comparison of respiratory infection rates between Oktoberfest attendees and control populations
Comparison of the incidence of respiratory symptoms and suspected respiratory infections between Oktoberfest attendees and participants from control cities (Regensburg and Nuremberg).
Measured: 1-2 weeks after the study period
Association between Oktoberfest exposure characteristics and respiratory infections
Association between characteristics of Oktoberfest attendance (e.g., number of visits, duration of stay, crowd exposure, indoor/outdoor activities) and occurrence of respiratory infections.
Measured: 1-2 weeks after Oktoberfest attendance
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Oct 2026
- Study start19 Sep 2026
- Primary completion31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Respiratory Viral Infections Associated With Oktoberfest AttendanceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 4,000 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- LMU Klinikum
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Prof. Dr. Stefan Brunner, LMU Klinikum
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07879781
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 26-0385
- Acronym
- MunichFlu
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 9 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 19 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Respiratory Viral Infections Following Oktoberfest Attendance: The MunichFlu Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07879781
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MunichFlu / 26-0385
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 4,000 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- LMU KlinikumUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 19 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 19 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The MunichFlu study is a prospective observational study investigating the incidence and etiology of respiratory viral infections following attendance at the Munich Oktoberfest, one of the world's largest mass gathering events.
Participants will be recruited during the Oktoberfest after providing informed consent. One to two weeks after the end of the festival, participants will receive an online follow-up questionnaire collecting information on demographic characteristics, medical history, Oktoberfest attendance, and the occurrence of respiratory symptoms or other infectious illnesses after their visit.
Participants reporting symptoms suggestive of an acute respiratory infection will be offered an optional nasal and/or throat swab for molecular detection and identification of the causative respiratory virus. In parallel, wastewater samples will be collected at the Oktoberfest venue and analyzed for circulating respiratory viruses to assess environmental viral surveillance.
To account for seasonal variations in respiratory virus circulation, parallel population-based surveys will be conducted in the German cities of Regensburg and Nuremberg during the same study period. The combined epidemiological, virological, and environmental surveillance data will provide a comprehensive assessment of respiratory viral infections associated with Oktoberfest attendance.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Oktoberfest Attendance Cohort | – | –Participants attending Oktoberfest and followed prospectively for respiratory symptoms and viral infections after attendance. |
| Regensburg Control Cohort | – | –Participants from Regensburg surveyed during the same period to assess background seasonal respiratory virus circulation. |
| Nuremberg Control Cohort | – | –Participants from Nuremberg surveyed during the same period to assess background seasonal respiratory virus circulation. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- The study population includes individuals attending the Munich Oktoberfest and control participants from Regensburg and Nuremberg, Germany. Participants will be followed prospectively to assess respiratory symptoms and respiratory viral infections after Oktoberfest attendance. Control cohorts will be used to account for seasonal variations in respiratory virus circulation.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Adults aged ≥18 years attending the Munich Oktoberfest during the study period, or reside in one of the predefined control regions (Regensburg or Nuremberg) Ability to provide informed consent Willingness to complete the study questionnaire during follow-up
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Refusal or inability to provide informed consent Inability to complete the follow-up questionnaire
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Incidence of respiratory viral infections following Oktoberfest attendance
Time frame: 1-2 weeks after Oktoberfest attendance
Proportion of participants developing symptoms of an acute respiratory infection within the follow-up period after Oktoberfest attendance, with optional molecular confirmation of respiratory viral pathogens.
5 secondary outcomes
Incidence of respiratory symptoms after Oktoberfest attendance
Time frame: 1-2 weeks after Oktoberfest attendance
Identification of respiratory viral pathogens
Time frame: 1-2 weeks after Oktoberfest attendance
Spectrum of respiratory viruses detected in wastewater samples
Time frame: During Oktoberfest
Comparison of respiratory infection rates between Oktoberfest attendees and control populations
Time frame: 1-2 weeks after the study period
Association between Oktoberfest exposure characteristics and respiratory infections
Time frame: 1-2 weeks after Oktoberfest attendance
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Respiratory Viral Infections Associated With Oktoberfest Attendance, run by LMU Klinikum at 1 site in Germany.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Germany. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Stefan Brunner, MD (+49 89 44000, Stefan.Brunner@med.uni-muenchen.de), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Incidence of respiratory viral infections following Oktoberfest attendance (time frame: 1-2 weeks after Oktoberfest attendance). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Oct 2026.