Toronto: Health officials are closely monitoring a new flu strain that has led to early and severe outbreaks in Canada, the UK, and Japan, with concerns about its potential impact in the US. The strain, a mutated version of H3N2 first identified this summer, has quickly spread and is associated with increased hospitalizations.
According to Anadolu Agency, Dr. Wenqing Zhang, head of the World Health Organization’s Global Respiratory Threats Unit, stated that the strain has been rapidly spreading and predominating in certain countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Experts note that the strain carries multiple mutations, differentiating it from the H3N2 component of this year’s seasonal flu vaccine. Antonia Ho, an infectious disease consultant at Scotland’s University of Glasgow, pointed out that the virus is quite different from the H3N2 strain included in this year’s vaccine.
The UK is currently witnessing flu cases three times higher than during the same period last year, reported James Mackey, head of the National Health Service. Canada is also experiencing an early surge in cases, according to Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan. In Japan, flu cases in Tokyo have soared to nearly six times higher than last year, leading to partial closures of over 2,300 schools and daycare centers, as reported by Nippon TV.
The extent of the strain’s spread in the US remains unclear. Although flu A cases have been reported, comprehensive national data is lacking due to staffing shortages at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite the vaccine not being a perfect match for the mutated H3N2, experts still encourage vaccination as the annual flu shot aims to reduce severity and prevent hospitalization.
Preliminary evidence from the UK suggests that the current vaccine may still be up to 40% effective in preventing hospitalizations in adults.