Autumn heat fuels viral infections, doctors: More aggressive than last year, affecting working-age adults

High temperatures, unusual for the autumn period, are being accompanied by the spread of viral infections, which doctors say are showing more severe symptoms this year.

High fever has been one of the main symptoms of this viral infection, said doctor P. Male. Cases are also presenting with bone pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Doctors are also reporting cases of gastroenteritis, while in some patients the viral infections have also affected the lungs, requiring treatment with antibiotics.

According to doctors, the viruses currently circulating are appearing more aggressively compared with the same period last year. Young and middle-aged people, particularly those in employment, appear to be the most affected, leading to significant absences from workplaces and institutions.

The spread appears to be higher among people working in offices and other environments where large numbers of people gather.

Meanwhile, older people appear to be experiencing the viral infection with fewer symptoms, according to doctors' observations.

Vlora and Saranda record the highest incidence of diarrhea cases

The high tourist influx and large gatherings of people during the summer coincide with a significantly higher incidence of diarrhea cases in some of the country's main tourist destinations, particularly Vlora and Saranda.

Data reported by the Institute of Public Health for weeks 31 and 32 of 2026 show that Vlora has the largest difference compared with the rest of the country in terms of the frequency of cases of “non-bloody diarrhea.”

In week 32, the incidence in Vlora reached around 115 cases per 10,000 inhabitants, up from approximately 108 cases a week earlier. This level is several times higher than in most other Local Health Care Units across the country.

Saranda, another area with a high concentration of holidaymakers during the summer months, also recorded an incidence significantly above most of the country. In week 31, it stood at around 69 cases per 10,000 inhabitants. The data show that cases fell sharply the following week.

The concentration of cases in two of the country's destinations with the highest tourist flows comes at a time when high temperatures and large gatherings create more favorable conditions for the spread of viruses and gastrointestinal infections.

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