In addition to Covid-19, flu, pneumococci and the like are also sweeping the offices empty this year. At the same time, pharmacies are slowly running out of antibiotics.
Although the corona lockdowns are still spared, an unusually severe flu winter awaits us this year. The reasons for this are still unclear, but there are already some assumptions: two years of pandemic have left their mark. The immune system is out of practice, the distance measures have been lifted and the protective masks have been removed.
While the majority of the population has shunned the crowds and swore to use disinfectants for the past two years, most are now doing without preventive measures.
Wear a mask and wash your hands
Due to numerous lockdowns, rigorous hand washing and strict travel restrictions, infectious diseases have barely found hosts to spread in the past two years. But this year people are getting sick en masse. According to the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), more than 300,000 workers were on sick leave in the past week alone – and are likely to remain ill.
According to Jürgen Rehak, Vice-President of the Chamber of Pharmacies, twice as many antibiotics are needed as last year, but there are bottlenecks in supplies. About 400 medicines are involved: antibiotics are becoming scarce. If you want to protect yourself against the flu, you should continue to wear the mask and take hygiene measures. To avoid serious cures, a flu vaccination is recommended.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
