"Worryingly, the mutations in the subclade K variant may make this year's flu vaccine less effective. But experts say the shot, which was developed months before the new variant was identified, should still provide some protection against severe disease and death. The mutations may allow it to evade some but not all of the influenza-vaccine-induced protection, Pekosz explained."
"We're still in the middle of trying to figure out whether it's producing worse illness or whether what we're seeing is a large number of cases that are increasing, and then there's a correspondingly similar increase in terms of the severe illness, he said. Flu viruses are constantly evolving, but often these changes are relatively minor—a process known as antigenic drift."
A mutated form of influenza A H3N2 called subclade K is causing severe flu seasons across multiple countries, including the U.K., Canada, Japan, and Australia, and is increasing cases and hospitalizations in the United States. The variant carries mutations that may reduce the match with this season's vaccine, which was formulated months before the variant emerged. The current vaccine is expected to retain partial protection against severe disease and death. Surveillance is ongoing to determine whether the variant causes inherently more severe illness or whether rising hospitalizations reflect a larger number of infections. The change represents antigenic drift rather than a pandemic-level antigenic shift.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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