 [ Symptoms ] what is viral meningitis [ Disease ] viral meningitis is more common and usually less serious it tends to occur more often in the summer and fall because of its flu like symptoms many people mistake it for the flu viruses that cause stomach flu are a cause of vir al meningitis but most people who have these infections do not develop meningitis others viruses that lead to meningitis are those that cause chickenpox mononucleosis mono and herpes sympt oms can be similar to those of bacterial meningitis