New COVID-19 Variant: How It’s Evolving and January Risks
- As most french people are finishing their galette des rois, an unusually widespread flu epidemic continues to sweep across France.
- It's a natural evolution of the H3N2 type A flu, technically designated as sub-clade J.2.4.1.
- Result: a significantly higher contagiousness than that of classic flu strains.
As most french people are finishing their galette des rois, an unusually widespread flu epidemic continues to sweep across France. The cause: a notably cunning variant of the H3N2 virus, dubbed K, which has accumulated enough mutations to partially overcome our natural defenses. Running two to three weeks ahead of schedule adn with a peak expected in early January, this flu season is shaping up to be long and challenging for our already strained healthcare system.
A disguised virus circulating at full speed
The variant K isn’t a new virus fallen from the sky. It’s a natural evolution of the H3N2 type A flu, technically designated as sub-clade J.2.4.1. What makes it particularly effective are the seven genetic mutations it has accumulated. These modifications act as true molecular disguises, allowing the virus to better sneak into our respiratory cells and partially escape the antibodies developed during previous infections or after vaccination.
Result: a significantly higher contagiousness than that of classic flu strains. Variant K has become dominant among viruses detected in France, explaining why the epidemic has settled so quickly and now affects almost the entire national territory.
Classic but severe symptoms
No surprises on the clinical picture: variant K causes the usual signs of seasonal flu. High fever that keeps you bedridden, intense muscle aches that feel like you’ve been beaten up, and brutal fatigue.