Doctors Warn Early Signs Show US Could Be In For A Severe Flu Season

A new variant of the influenza virus, H3N2 subclade K, is causing concern as it spreads rapidly in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan. This mutated strain has been detected in 90% of flu samples from the UK and Japan, according to a report by the University of Minnesota earlier this month. The emergence of this variant suggests that the United States could face a severe flu season.

Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, a professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and division head of pediatric infectious diseases at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, noted signs of early flu activity in parts of the U.S. He also highlighted a worrying trend: vaccination rates have continued to decline since the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season was dominated by the H1N1 strain, with H3N2 subclade K only gaining traction towards the end. However, the early data from the Northern Hemisphere indicates a different pattern, with H3N2 subclade K becoming more prevalent.

Health officials are urging the public to get vaccinated to help mitigate the impact of the flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends flu vaccinations for everyone aged six months and older.