Cases doubled

Flu epidemic is heading towards its peak

240,208 sick days are currently officially reported.(Bild: Malena Brenek)

The number of infections with the influenza virus is rising just as rapidly as the number of sick days. There is no end in sight yet. 

The Christmas vacations and school vacations are over and a massive wave of flu is already sweeping the country and cannot be contained for the time being, as can be read on the website of the Center for Virology at the Medical University of Vienna. In the Austrian capital alone, the number of new cases has doubled in just one week.

According to the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), a whopping 240,208 sick days were reported throughout Austria in the second calendar week - compared to 175,417 in the previous week. Schoolchildren are not included in the records, as they are not required to provide a diagnosis (known as diagnosis coding).

Appeal for flu vaccination
Andreas Krauter, Chief Physician at ÖGK, emphasizes: "It is particularly important to take advantage of the free flu vaccination offer throughout Austria." The number of infections with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza B(Victoria) has increased in particular. "These viruses correspond to the virus strains contained in the influenza vaccine," says Krauter.