It's starting again: The flu is spreading, this year even quite early. From the beginning of November, the number of cases confirmed in the laboratory has increased significantly, as the Robert Koch Institute states in its weekly report. Otherwise, influenza viruses usually only really spread in our country from the turn of the year and then not only cause temporary runny noses and coughs, but can also lead to life-threatening pneumonia, especially in older people and people with pre-existing health conditions. Hardly any virus is as changeable as that of influenza. One of the most important questions for virologists and epidemiologists every year is: Which flu virus exactly is doing the rounds this time?

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