A rapidly changing H3N2 influenza strain is driving a severe global flu season, particularly affecting Canada, the UK, and parts of Asia and Australia.[youtube +1]
This new variant of H3N2 might not closely match the current season’s flu vaccine, raising concerns about the vaccine’s effectiveness
Experts warn that H3N2 outbreaks tend to be more severe, causing more hospitalizations, especially among elderly and vulnerable populations.
Unusually high infection rates have been reported in the Southern Hemisphere for the second year in a row, with early onset in the UK and Asia, raising alerts that North America could see a similar severe wave as winter progresses
Canada’s flu positivity rate has increased to around 2%
IIn Australia, record-breaking case numbers (over 410,000 laboratory-confirmed cases) have been reported for the second consecutive year.
UK health authorities report their flu season started a month earlier than usual
Vaccination efforts against both flu and COVID-19 are being ramped up.
