"In the UK, a form H3N2 is dominating the season so far. The virus is a descendant of a strain that this year caused Australia's worst flu season on record. Since then, the strain acquired seven new mutations, producing what scientists call a drifted strain of H3N2, named subclade K. The mutations are thought to help it spread faster, although it does not seem to cause more severe disease."
"Dr Vincent Enouf, deputy director of the National Respiratory Virus Center of France at the Pasteur Institute in Paris told the Guardian that the flu season started only a week earlier than usual, and that France was detecting as many H1N1 cases as H3N2 subclade K. France's national public health agency Sante publique said this week that flu activity was increasing strongly in metropolitan France, with cases rising in all age groups"
The northern hemisphere influenza season began unusually early, often mid-November to mid-February but this year appearing weeks ahead. England saw 11% positivity at start of November versus 3% last year, indicating an early start by four to five weeks. Seasonal influenza includes influenza A and B, with A subtypes H1N1 and H3N2. A drifted H3N2 subclade K carrying seven new mutations is dominating in the UK and descended from a strain linked to Australia's severe season. Mutations may increase transmissibility without clear increase in severity. European regions show variable timing and rising H3N2 activity, with France detecting both subtypes.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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