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- The united States is experiencing a important rise in influenza cases, driven primarily by the H3N2 strain.
- Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada are also seeing H3N2 become the predominant subtype, leading to increased hospitalizations, especially among vulnerable populations - older adults and young children.
- The H3N2 flu is a subtype of influenza A virus. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NIH), it's "responsible for one of the three major...
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H3N2 Flu: A Deep Dive into the Rising Influenza Strain
Table of Contents
What’s Happening with H3N2?
The united States is experiencing a important rise in influenza cases, driven primarily by the H3N2 strain. As of November 15, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports at least 650,000 cases, 7,400 hospitalizations, and 300 deaths associated with the flu this season. This is a concerning increase,and health officials are closely monitoring the situation.
The impact isn’t limited to the US. Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada are also seeing H3N2 become the predominant subtype, leading to increased hospitalizations, especially among vulnerable populations – older adults and young children.
What is H3N2 Flu?
The H3N2 flu is a subtype of influenza A virus. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NIH), it’s “responsible for one of the three major influenza pandemics that occurred in the last century.” The H3N2 virus first emerged in humans in 1968, causing the “Hong Kong flu” pandemic.
A recent variant of H3N2 was first identified in US pigs in 2010. This variant carries the M gene, also found in the H1N1 pandemic virus. The M gene is associated with increased human-to-human transmission, making the virus more contagious.
The “H3N2” designation refers to the proteins on the surface of the virus: Hemagglutinin type 3 and Neuraminidase type 2. Thes proteins are crucial for the virus to infect cells and are used to classify different influenza subtypes.
Currently, H3N2 is the dominant influenza A strain circulating, while H1N1 is present in smaller quantities. Influenza B typically peaks later in the season, around February/March. Adults over 65 and school-age children are currently the most affected age groups.
Vaccine Effectiveness and Mutations
A significant concern this year is that the H3N2 strain has undergone multiple mutations that differentiate it from the H3N2 component included in this year’s seasonal flu vaccine. Dr. Alejandro Macías, a leading infectious disease specialist, explains that flu vaccines are formulated annually based on predictions of the circulating