Seattle braces for mutated flu strain spread
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A new version of the flu is spreading rapidly and raising concern among public health experts, who are warning of a new flu outbreak ahead of winter.
Why it matters: The new flu strain, a version of H3N2, emerged over the summer, raising fears that the current flu vaccine might struggle to fight it.
- Health officials in Canada and the U.K. have already warned of an H3N2 wave that's sending people to the hospital.
Driving the news: The new version of H3N2 (subclade K) — a strain of influenza A — acquired seven different mutations over the summer, making it only a partial match to this year's flu shot, experts said.
- Early data indicates the vaccine still provides some protection.
What they're saying: "Since it emerged, it's rapidly spreading and predominating in some countries so far in the Northern Hemisphere," Dr. Wenqing Zhang, head of the World Health Organization's Global Respiratory Threats Unit, said at a media briefing on Wednesday.
The latest: Washington labs reported a small uptick in influenza activity in recent weeks, with about 3% of early November specimens testing positive — mostly Type A viruses, including H3N2 and H1N1.
Reality check: For now, the state Department of Health reports flu activity remains "minimal" and experts don't see this as a pandemic-level threat, though it could still pose risks for older Washingtonians and people with underlying health conditions.
Yes, but: The U.S. experienced the worst flu season since 2009 last year, leaving hundreds of thousands of Americans hospitalized.
What's next: Health officials are urging Washington residents to get vaccinated and take the usual precautions, including handwashing and staying home when sick.