The health authorities across the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada are reporting a sharp rise in flu cases driven by a fast-spreading strain popularly dubbed the “super flu.” However, it is officially identified as subclade K. Moreover, it is a mutated form of Influenza A (H3N2). Yet, the virus has become the dominant flu strain this season. Still, the World Health Organisation (WHO) stress that the super flu is still a seasonal influenza virus.
What exactly is subclade K?
As we mentioned above, it is a mutated version of influenza A H3N2 that emerged earlier this year and has since spread rapidly across multiple countries. Experts have highlighted the science behind the strain.
Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, told The Telegraph that the “H” and “N” in H3N2 refer to two surface proteins, i.e, haemagglutinin and neuraminidase. Hence, it helped classify the flu viruses. Moreover, he noted that H3N2 just happens to be the dominant variant this year.
Medical experts say influenza viruses constantly grow, which allows them to bypass the immune system. Professor Ed Hutchinson from the Glasgow Centre for Virus Research told The Telegraph that many people are getting reinfected because immunity tends to be weaker during the winter months.
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Why doctors are concerned this flu season
Health experts have warned that this could be a harsher-than-usual flu season. Dr Scott Roberts, assistant professor of infectious diseases at Yale School of Medicine, said to The New York Times that the virus might spread more widely than the previous variant and could be better at avoiding immunity from vaccines and prior infections.
Dr Robert said that it was the roughest flu season in nearly a decade, while referring to the last year. Moreover, he warned that a similar condition could return this year. However, not all experts agree to this condition.
Professor Lawrence Young, molecular oncologist at the University of Warwick, told the BBC that it is true that the strain is more infectious, but he called it a super flu is misleading and frightening.
Symptoms and who is most at risk
Despite the new variant, Subclade K causes symptoms similar to seasonal flu. Below is the list of those symptoms:
- High fever
- Chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Congestion
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
Doctors say symptoms tend to appear more abruptly compared to COVID-19. Moreover, difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, persistent high fever or sudden worsening of symptoms are the warning signs when you should prompt immediate medical attention.
Those most at risk include children under five, older adults, pregnant women, and people with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease or weakened immune systems.
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How fast is the ‘super flu’ spreading?
The spread is especially sharp in big cities. New York City has been hardest, as it recorded around 14,000 flu cases in the first week of December, which was a 460% increase compared to last year.
Dr Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist at Hartford Hospital, told NewsNation that dense populations and high travel volumes make cities like New York especially vulnerable. Moreover, Dr Andrew Pekosz, an infectious disease specialist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said states including Colorado, Louisiana and New York are seeing rapid increases during the public briefing.
Prevention and protection
There is no single cure for this flu. However, the NHS advises rest, fluids, fever-reducing medication and staying home until recovery. Doctors said that basic prevention still plays an important role in these cases. Hence, you should perform handwashing, mask use in crowded places, and avoiding close contact when sick.
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