‘Aggressive’ new flu variant sweeps globe as doctors warn of severe symptoms

Flu play is among us, and a caller strain has emerged arsenic a large threat.

Influenza A H3N2, oregon the subclade K variant, has been detected arsenic the culprit successful rising planetary cases, including successful the U.S.

In an interrogation with Fox News Digital, Dr. Neil Maniar, prof of nationalist wellness signifier astatine Boston’s Northeastern University, shared details connected the aboriginal severity of this emerging strain.

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"It’s becoming evident that this is simply a beauteous terrible variant of the flu," helium said. "Certainly successful different parts of the satellite wherever this variant has been prevalent, it's caused immoderate terrible illness, and we're seeing an assertive flu play already."

Influenza A H3N2, oregon the subclade K variant, has been detected arsenic the culprit successful rising planetary cases. (iStock)

The variant seems to disagree from anterior strains of the flu, with heightened versions of emblematic symptoms similar fever, chills, headache, fatigue, cough, sore pharynx and runny nose.

Subclade K is the "perfect storm" for an assertive flu season, Maniar suggested, arsenic vaccination rates wide are down and this year's flu vaccine does not code this circumstantial strain.

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"The vaccine is precise important to get, but due to the fact that it's not perfectly aligned with this variant, I deliberation that's besides contributing to immoderate grade to the severity of cases we're seeing," helium said. "We're going successful [to this flu season] with little vaccination rates and a variant that successful itself seems to beryllium much aggressive."

"There's a batch of interest that this could beryllium a peculiarly hard flu season, some successful presumption of the full fig of cases [and] the severity of those cases."

Staying indoors during the colder months increases the hazard of vulnerability to wintertime illness. (iStock)

Because subclade K is "quite different" from anterior variants, Maniar said determination is little earthy immunity astatine the assemblage level, further expanding the hazard of dispersed and severity.

Those who are unvaccinated are besides astatine hazard of experiencing much terrible symptoms, arsenic good arsenic a higher hazard of hospitalization, the doc emphasized.

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In summation to getting vaccinated, the doc recommends washing hands often and properly. While the flu tin dispersed via airborne transmission, a assortment of different illnesses, similar norovirus, tin instrumentality to surfaces for up to 2 weeks, helium added.

The vacation play besides boosts the hazard of infection, arsenic gatherings, ample events, and packed planes, trains and buses tin exposure radical to others who are sick.

The flu vaccine tin assistance to forestall hospitalization and trim terrible symptoms, doctors agree. (iStock)

Those who are not feeling good oregon exhibiting symptoms should "please enactment home," Maniar advised — "especially if you deliberation you are successful that contagious play of the flu oregon immoderate of these different illnesses that we're seeing … whether it's norovirus oregon COVID oregon RSV."

"If you're not feeling well, enactment home. That's a large mode to retrieve faster and to guarantee that you're not going to get others astir you sick."

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For those who are unsure of their wellness presumption oregon diagnosis, Maniar recommends seeing a healthcare supplier to get tested. Some providers whitethorn beryllium capable to prescribe medicine to trim the severity and duration of the illness.

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"It's important that everyone stays vigilant and tries to instrumentality attraction of themselves and their families," helium added.