Tens of countries affected by a new wave of flu, a new dangerous strain has arrived

Photo: Guido Mieth, Getty Images

Tens of countries on all continents have been hit by a new wave of flu, and this season, a new, particularly dangerous strain of the virus is to blame for a large number of cases, writes the BBC.

Initially, sub-clade K of the H3N2 strain was found in Australia and New Zealand, then there were outbreaks in Japan and Britain, and now this variant of the virus has already been recorded in over 30 countries worldwide.

This variant was previously rare, and therefore people have insufficient immunity to it. In Britain, thousands of infected people are already being admitted to hospitals every week.

What is the H3N2 flu virus mutation?

Flu viruses mutate constantly, and doctors track these changes to create new effective vaccines against them.

In most cases, mutations are minor, but sometimes the virus changes sharply and very significantly.

As Derek Smith, Director of the Centre for Pathogen Evolution at Cambridge University, explains, H3N2 has undergone seven mutations.

"It will almost certainly sweep across the world," predicts Professor Smith.

Is this strain more dangerous than others?

People have rarely encountered sub-clade K H3N2 in recent years, and consequently, they have not developed lasting immunity to it.

Therefore, although the symptoms of the new flu type may not be more severe than usual, a larger number of people can become infected.

It's worth remembering that some who contract the virus experience no symptoms at all, but many others develop fever, body aches, and rapid fatigue, and for the elderly and those weakened by other illnesses, this virus can even be fatal.

"We haven't seen a virus like this in a long time. Unusual dynamics," says Nicola Lewis, Director of the Worldwide Influenza Centre at the UK's Francis Crick Institute. "I'm worried, of course. Not panicking, but concerned."

How to distinguish flu from a cold and COVID

Many symptoms of a cold, flu, and COVID overlap, but there are differences that can help you determine what you've caught.

A cold usually comes on gradually and manifests as a runny nose and sore throat.

Flu usually starts suddenly and brings with it fever, aches in various places, and muscle weakness.

With COVID, symptoms are similar to flu symptoms, but one of the main distinguishing features can be loss of taste and smell. Additionally, COVID can be accompanied by very severe sore throat and diarrhea.

How to protect yourself from the flu

The best way to prevent flu is vaccination. Although current vaccines may not be sufficiently effective against the new variant of the virus.

"While some protection is better than none, this year, it seems, the protection will be less than in years when vaccines were a better match for the virus. The situation is far from ideal," Professor Christoph Fraser of the Oxford University Pandemic Institute told the BBC.

"The sub-clade K viruses currently circulating are slightly different in some antigens [markers recognized by the immune system - BBC] from previous strains, so if you haven't had a new vaccination this year, you are more likely to get the flu and have a more severe illness," explains Nicola Lewis.

The main thing that the currently available vaccine can do, as experts explain, is that it will mitigate symptoms and help contain the spread of the virus.

Various types of quarantines also help contain the spread. In Japan and England, for example, some schools have already been closed.

And in addition, on a personal level, old, well-known methods help combat the epidemic: if you get sick, cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief when you cough or sneeze, and stay home if possible.

Influx of patients in UK hospitals

In England, home to almost 59 of the United Kingdom's approximately 70 million residents, an average of 2,660 people per day sought hospital care for flu in the first week of December.

According to NHS England, this is one and a half times more than in the last week of November, and after December 7, the number of cases continues to rise, with the peak still very far away.

By December 14, the number of visits is predicted by doctors to reach 5-8 thousand per day. So far, the record in England for seasonal flu is 5,400 people per day.

The number of cases is growing just as rapidly in other parts of the United Kingdom: Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Many hospitals and schools in Britain have introduced mandatory mask-wearing.

What about Belarus?

The Chief Doctor of Minsk, Yuri Horbich, commented on the flu situation to Minsk-News.

“This year we have seasonal flu; usually, the peak incidence falls at the end of December, January, and early February. The pandemic flu of 2009 is among the viruses circulating here, but there will be no new pandemic strain,” he said.

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