Seasonal viral infections are spreading rapidly across Greece, putting heavy pressure on pediatric hospitals during the Christmas holidays. Health officials report a significant increase in cases of seasonal flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory illnesses among children, driven in part by increased social activity and relaxed protective measures.

Milder weather and holiday gatherings encouraged families to socialize more freely, often overlooking basic precautions. As a result, pediatric emergency departments have seen a surge in young patients presenting with high fever, persistent dry cough, extreme fatigue, muscle pain, and, in some cases, gastrointestinal symptoms.

According to data from Greece’s public hospital workers’ federation (POEDIN), the children’s hospital “Aglaia Kyriakou” in Athens examined around 500 children during a single on-call period from Sunday to Monday morning. Of these, 120 were diagnosed with flu, RSV, or other seasonal respiratory infections.

POEDIN estimates that around 10% to 15% of children arriving with such viral infections require hospital admission. At present, seven children are hospitalized with influenza and ten with RSV at the same hospital.

The influx has led to long waiting times, particularly in emergency departments, where delays of three to four hours have been recorded. POEDIN president Michalis Giannakos said the situation highlights serious gaps in primary healthcare services, pointing to staff shortages at local health centers and the frequent referral of mild cases to hospitals, sometimes after only a phone consultation with private doctors.

Giannakos urged parents to remain vigilant, stressing that the outbreak has not yet reached its peak. He called for strict adherence to preventive measures, including vaccination where medically recommended, the use of face masks when necessary, and avoiding crowded indoor spaces.