Scientists from Canada recently warned about a difference between the seasonal influenza vaccine strain and what is currently the dominant flu strain. CIDRAP reported on the data in a press release.
The researchers hope their data will lead to increased surveillance in North America. Seasonal influenza infections are starting to rise in the United States, according to the most recent Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The flu strain proving to be dominant this season is H3N2 subclade K, found in 90% of flu samples from the U.K. and Japan. The researchers “do not believe this strain of H3N2 will lead to a pandemic.” Currently, the seasonal vaccine includes subclades J and J.2, meaning efficacy against subclade K may be “slightly reduced,” leading to higher incidence.
Senior author Danuta Skowronski, MD, the epidemiology lead for influenza and emerging respiratory pathogens at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, told CIDRAP in an exclusive statement, "This is not the time to be flying blind into the respiratory virus season. We look to the US to see what is circulating, because it drives what's going on in North America.”
Furthermore, the authors emphasized that even with the “mismatch,” getting the flu vaccine is still the best way to protect yourself.
