Summer Flu? What's Behind the Many Illnesses Now

An unusual number of people are experiencing cold-like symptoms in Austria during the summer months, leading to fuller doctor's waiting rooms. While not a major epidemic, general practitioners and lung specialists report seeing more patients than expected for early August. Common complaints include respiratory infections and gastrointestinal problems.

Doctors are unable to definitively identify the specific viruses causing these widespread ailments due to a lack of testing during the summer. However, they suspect rhinoviruses, common cold viruses, and enteroviruses, which are known to cause gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses and are often referred to as the cause of "summer flu." Coxsackie A viruses are particularly prevalent in Europe and are the most common cause of the highly contagious hand, foot, and mouth disease, which primarily affects young children.

The SARI-Dashboard, which tracks severe acute respiratory infections in Austrian hospitals, and general sick leave data do not indicate a significant wave of infections comparable to those seen in autumn or winter. Pediatricians also note an increase in patients, but not a significant one, with hand, foot, and mouth disease being a typical summer ailment they are observing.