Health and Me

Ishita Roy

186 H3N2 Outbreaks As Hospitalization Rates Double On Canada

<span>H3N2</span> flu is spreading in Canada, and hospitalization has nearly doubled up. The Health Canada data shows that influenza is up by almost 30 per cent. The week ending December 13, Canada saw 11,646 new cases of flu, which equals to 27.7 per cent of all tests conducted in the country were positive. Now, as compared to the week before, there is an increase of 71 per cent, which saw 6,799 new cases and a positivity rate of 20.2 per cent.

The hospitalization rate has also gone up from 3.6 people per 10,000 of the population to 6.2 in this week. The number of reported outbreaks is now up from 91 to 186 and 44 regions across 11 provinces and territories reported influenza. 

<h2>Which Flu Strain Is Hitting Canada Hard?</h2>

Doctors explain that subclade K enhances the ability of the virus to slip through our immune protection. However, it does not mean that vaccination offers no protection against the flu. In fact, experts and doctors have been emphasizing the need to get yourself vaccinated to help you protect from the worst effects of the virus.

“If you look at deaths and severe illness with flu, the vast majority both in adults and in children are unvaccinated,” said Dr Fahad Razak, internal medicine physician and professor at the University of Toronto.

“Yes, you may get sick, even if you are vaccinated, it’s that the severity, the chance that you’re going to end up in hospital and worst-case scenario in the ICU or die does seem to be significantly protected against by being vaccinated.”

Health Canada too noted that vaccination can prevent anyone infected with influenza from developing any further complications.

<h2>Are Any Other Countries Impacted?</h2>

UK and US are among the other countries impacted with the subclade K or the super flu. The National Health Service (NHS), UK, has already sent out a 'flu jab SOS' to vulnerable people.

NHS has confirmed that the super flu is circulating in England this year, and due to less immunity, it is making it easier to spread across people. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged people to get a flu jab. As per the early data, this year's vaccine has offered good protection despite the new strain.

Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, said that the major concern is that H3N2 is associated with a more severe illness and superflu could be "a very nasty strain of flu". He said that UK could be experiencing a "tidal wave" of illness.

The main strain circulating this winter is a drifted H3N2 variant, which the UKHSA says has left the community with “less natural immunity.” H3N2 strains tend to cause more serious illness in older adults than H1N1 strains and are linked to higher hospitalizations and deaths. This pattern adds further strain to the NHS during the winter months.

<h2>How To Know If It Is Flu Or COVID?</h2>

Dr Rupa Parmar, a GP and medical director at Midland Health tells The Mirror, that shortness of breath could be a key symptom that could differentiate between the two.

Dr Parmar highlights that it is a key indicator for COVID. "Shortness of breath is rare in both a cold and the flu, but as COVID more so affects the lungs due to inflammation, it is a common symptom."

The NHS website supports her advice, noting that breathlessness is a symptom more often tied to Covid, not the flu or a common cold. This kind of breathing difficulty is usually associated with infections like Covid or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

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H3N2 flu is spreading in Canada, and hospitalization has nearly doubled up. The Health Canada data shows that influenza is up by almost 30 per cent. The week ending December 13, Canada saw 11,646 new cases of flu, which equals to 27.7 per cent of all tests conducted in the country were positive. Now, as compared to the week before, there is an increase of 71 per cent, which saw 6,799 new cases and a positivity rate of 20.2 per cent.The hospitalization rate has also gone up from 3.6 people per 10,000 of the population to 6.2 in this week. The number of reported outbreaks is now up from 91 to 186 and 44 regions across 11 provinces and territories reported influenza. Which Flu Strain Is Hitting Canada Hard?Doctors explain that subclade K enhances the ability of the virus to slip through our immune protection. However, it does not mean that vaccination offers no protection against the flu. In fact, experts and doctors have been emphasizing the need to get yourself vaccinated to help you protect from the worst effects of the virus.“If you look at deaths and severe illness with flu, the vast majority both in adults and in children are unvaccinated,” said Dr Fahad Razak, internal medicine physician and professor at the University of Toronto.“Yes, you may get sick, even if you are vaccinated, it’s that the severity, the chance that you’re going to end up in hospital and worst-case scenario in the ICU or die does seem to be significantly protected against by being vaccinated.”Health Canada too noted that vaccination can prevent anyone infected with influenza from developing any further complications.Are Any Other Countries Impacted?UK and US are among the other countries impacted with the subclade K or the super flu. The National Health Service (NHS), UK, has already sent out a 'flu jab SOS' to vulnerable people.NHS has confirmed that the super flu is circulating in England this year, and due to less immunity, it is making it easier to spread across people. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged people to get a flu jab. As per the early data, this year's vaccine has offered good protection despite the new strain.Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, said that the major concern is that H3N2 is associated with a more severe illness and superflu could be "a very nasty strain of flu". He said that UK could be experiencing a "tidal wave" of illness.The main strain circulating this winter is a drifted H3N2 variant, which the UKHSA says has left the community with “less natural immunity.” H3N2 strains tend to cause more serious illness in older adults than H1N1 strains and are linked to higher hospitalizations and deaths. This pattern adds further strain to the NHS during the winter months.How To Know If It Is Flu Or COVID?Dr Rupa Parmar, a GP and medical director at Midland Health tells The Mirror, that shortness of breath could be a key symptom that could differentiate between the two.Dr Parmar highlights that it is a key indicator for COVID. "Shortness of breath is rare in both a cold and the flu, but as COVID more so affects the lungs due to inflammation, it is a common symptom."The NHS website supports her advice, noting that breathlessness is a symptom more often tied to Covid, not the flu or a common cold. This kind of breathing difficulty is usually associated with infections like Covid or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).