Why This Year’s Flu Outbreak Is So Severe

Seasonal influenza is currently surging in Greece, with epidemiological indicators pointing to a particularly severe outbreak and official data recording a steady rise in hospital admissions.

Health experts are sounding the alarm, highlighting low vaccination rates and warning that the current wave is likely to be prolonged.

“Global severity” and low vaccination coverage

Speaking to Orange Press Agency, Dr. Eleni Kakalou, an internist–infectious disease specialist at the 3rd University Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, based at Sotiria Hospital, explains why this year’s flu season has proven especially intense.

“As with every season, there are better and worse years,” she notes. “This year, however, we are seeing a relative severity of the influenza epidemic internationally.”

Dr. Kakalou identifies reduced vaccination coverage as a key issue in Greece. “One of the main problems this year is that significantly fewer people have been vaccinated,” she says. “We would like to remind the public that flu vaccines are available at pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription for those who need them. For people over 65 or those with serious underlying health conditions, there is also an enhanced vaccine with greater effectiveness, which does require a prescription.”