A new wave of influenza, caused by the H3N2 strain, is rapidly spreading around the world and has already affected more than three dozen countries. Doctors and virologists are recording an unusually rapid rate of infections and are warning that the mutated virus could sweep the entire world. The BBC reports this, citing leading experts in the field of epidemiology.
Scientists note that the H3N2 strain has undergone seven significant mutations that have significantly changed its antigenic properties. That is why the majority of the population does not have sufficient immunity to the new variant of the virus, because similar strains have practically not circulated in recent years. According to Professor Derek Smith, director of the Centre for Pathogen Evolution at the University of Cambridge, these changes are what caused the sharp increase in the number of cases.
" It will almost certainly cover the entire world ," Smith emphasized.
Professor Nicola Lewis, director of the Global Influenza Centre in London, also speaks about the unusual nature of the current situation. She notes that the virus is showing dynamics that experts have not observed for many years.
For most people, the course of the disease may be typical of influenza, but the potential number of infected people is much higher due to the lack of protective antibodies. The elderly, patients with chronic diseases and those with weakened immune systems are traditionally at greatest risk.
Experts emphasize that vaccination remains one of the main tools of protection. Although existing vaccines may not fully match the new strain, they are still able to provide partial protection and reduce the risk of complications. " At least some protection is better than none ," says Professor Christoph Fraser of the University of Oxford.
Meanwhile, countries are responding to the rise in cases with local restrictions. In Japan and the UK, some schools have temporarily closed to contain the spread of the virus.
Doctors also remind people of the basic rules of prevention: cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, wash your hands regularly with warm water and soap, avoid close contact, and stay home if you have symptoms. If going outside is unavoidable, doctors advise spending as much time outdoors as possible.
Experts predict that this year's flu season may be more difficult than the previous one precisely because of the characteristics of the H3N2 strain, but they emphasize that basic protective measures and timely vaccination remain the most effective tools in the fight against the virus.
