Flu A, or the new version of the flu virus called H3N2 is spreading quickly, the worst part is that fewer people are getting the flu shots. Doctors and scientists say that this year's influenza season could be tougher than the usual. Dr. Amanda Kravitz, a pediatrician at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York in an interview to CBS Mornings, said, "This flu season is no joke. We are seeing more cases than we would expect for this time of year. We are seeing influenza A, and within influenza A we are seeing a subtype or variant called H3N2."

Scientist Jesse Bloom, at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center who studies viral evolution said that "it is pretty likely to be an H3N2-dominated flu season. I don't see any reason to think that this is an unprecedentedly bad one, but current indicators are that it may be substantially more severe than the typical winter flu season," as reported by CBS News.

Not just the UK, but as per the journal of the British Medical Association, even the United Kingdom is suffering from an early and severe fly season, all thanks to the influenza A H3N2 called subclade K. Neil Maniar, director of the master of public health program at Northeastern University said, "The United Kingdom got hit pretty hard by this," as well as Europe and Australia. "I think that's a pretty good harbinger of what we are likely to see here. This is going to be a very difficult flu season."

Experts are pointing out that while the vaccine may not be a good match for the updated flu virus circulating, it is still the best line of defense. Flu vaccines have an efficacy rate of 40% to 60%, however, as per as early report by Eurosurveillance, the efficacy of the current vaccine rate was between 32% to 39% in adults, and 72% to 75% in children. However, it is still important to get the vaccine to avoid any severe illness from the flu virus, point out experts.

"If you haven’t done so, get (the vaccine)," Maniar pointed out. “Definitely get it as we go into the holidays, as we go into new year’s and the new school year." It takes about two weeks to build up a solid immune response, however, within several days of getting the vaccine, people start to develop some immunity.

Read: Flu Cases In US Reach 5 Million Mark, Reveals CDC Data

The Virus Is Changing

Dr Helen Chu, a flu expert at the University of Washington told the CBS News that based on the UK and Japan data, there will be more cases of hospitalization by this flu. The flu activity is "starting everywhere right now" and would be overlapping with RSV, before the winter COVID-19 wave.

Trevor Bedford, who also studies viral evolution at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, said H3N2 tends to evolve faster than other influenza strains. "I expect more H3 incidence than the typical year and poorer vaccine effectiveness," he said.

"Total season effectiveness is probably going to actually be much, much lower," Chu warned, because immunity fades over time.

However, despite the mismatch in the vaccine, experts stress the fact that the flu vaccine is still helping preventing severe illness, especially in children. They also help in preventing severe diseases, hospitalization and deaths.

Barry Manilow, singer, has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will be undergoing a surgery for the same. He announced this update on his social media post on Monday. Currently 82, he said he had been fighting bronchitis for more than two months, and it was when his doctor ordered an MRI that the test "discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. It is pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early."

He said that doctors do not think that the cancer had spread and that he will have additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.

“No chemo, No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns,” he wrote.

However, Manilow did not mention when he would be having the surgery, however, he is expected to rest for a month to fully recover from it. This means the nine concert dates that are scheduled for January could be postponed. “Just like you, we were all looking forward to the January shows and hate having to move everything around,” he wrote. However, no other information on the rescheduled concert dates were provided.

What Is Lung Cancer?

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lung cancer begins in the lungs and may spread to lymph nodes or other organs in the body, including brain too, if not caught early. Cancer cells from other organs too could spread to the lungs, this process is called metastases.

In lung cancer, uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lung tissues, usually in the lining of air passages, forms tumors that disrupt normal breathing and can spread to other parts of the body. This is also the leading cause of cancer death.

There are several types of cancer, and in lung cancer, there are two main types called:

• Small cell Cancer
• Non-small Cell cancers: including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma

These types of cancer grow differently and are treated differently. Non-small cell lung cancer is more common than small cell lung cancer. Manilow, however, did not specify the type of lung cancer he has been diagnosed with, neither did he mention the stage of lung cancer he has been diagnosed with. However, he did note that the cancerous spots were found early on.

Read: Did Scientists Just Come Up With A New Blood Test That Detects And Monitors Lung Cancers In Real Time?

What Are The Common Symptoms Of Lung Cancer?

No cancer journey is the same, so people too ca have different symptoms for lung cancers. Some people may have symptoms related to lung cancer, whereas others won't feel a thing until it has spread to other parts of the body. Some people just have general symptoms of not feeling well. However, there are certain common symptoms that some people may experience, they include:

• Coughing that gets worse or doesn't go away.
• Chest pain.
• Shortness of breath.
• Wheezing.
• Coughing up blood.
• Feeling very tired all the time.
• Weight loss with no known cause.

Other changes that can sometimes occur with lung cancer may include repeated bouts of pneumonia and swollen or enlarged lymph nodes (glands) inside the chest in the area between the lungs.

If you experience any of these signs, it is best that you speak to your doctor and get your tests done.

Wegovy pill is now approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On Monday, the FDA approved a daily pill version of Novo Nordisk's weight loss drug Wegovy, which is now introducing a new option for patients, that is said to revolutionize weight loss medicine and obesity treatment.

The weight loss pill uses the same active ingredient. semaglutide. The same active ingredient powers the original Wegovy and sister drug for diabetes, Ozempic. Rival company Eli Lilly is also in the process of getting its weight loss drug approved, which will be out in the market by 2026, the CEO had said. Eli Lilly is known for drugs like Zepbound and Mounjaro. In the US, notes health policy research group KFF, at least 1 in 8 Americans are currently taking one of these medicines.

Wegovy Pill's Benefits And When Can People Buy It?

The Wegovy pill showed similar weight loss results as well as the side effects as in the Wegovy shot. The drug will be available by prescription in the US by January, said Novo Nordisk. Dr Jason Brett, who is the principal US medical head for Novo Nordisk told CNN in an interview, "We believe it will expand access and options for patients. We know there are some patients who just won’t take an injectable medication.”

The starting dose of the weight loss Wegovy pill will cost $149 for patients who will be paying out of the pocket. This is under the November agreement announced by the Trump administration. The drug will become pricier via self-pay as doses increase, though Novo Nordisk has not disclosed its prices yet. Patients whose insurance covers the medicines will be paying a lower copay.

The Wegovy weight loss pill is one of the two GLP-1 pill which will hit the market, along with Eli Lilly's orforglipron.

Read: Oral Weight Loss Pill Comes Next Year, Says Eli Lily As It Announces A Third Manufacturing Facility In US

Whose Weight Loss Pill Is More Effective?

While the pills have not been compared head to head in an clinical trial, there have been separate studies done on them. The Wegovy pill showed an average weight loss of 14% over 64 weeks, when compared for a placebo, which showed 2% weight loss. Whereas, orforglipron showed 11% weight loss over 72 weeks on its highest dose, as compared to 2% with placebo.

Wegovy injection on the other hand showed a weight loss of 15%, whereas, Zepbound showed 21% on his highest dose. Placebo remained at 2% and 3%, respectively in comparison with both the drugs.

What Changes And What Remains The Same On Weight Loss Drug?

Side effects, including gastrointestinal issues like nausea and vomiting remain the most common ones with GLP-1 drugs, which was also seen in the studies of the pill as well. The clinical studies showed that 7% of participants on Wegovy pill stopped the treatment because of side effects, verss 6% on placebo. In orforglipron's study, up to 10% of patients stopped treatment, as compared with 3% on placebo.

The key difference with the pill is that it must be taken on an empty stomach with a small amount of water, and patients are not directed to eat, drink, or take any other medicines for the next 30 minutes after taking it.

Doctors have pointed out that a pill version of semgalutide approved for diabetes called Rybelus has not been used as widely as Ozempic in part because of these restrictions. Eli Lilly however says that in clinical trials, orforglipron was taken once a day at any time, without restrictions on food or water.

With Christmas only a week away, doctors are raising alarms over a growing “tripledemic” spreading across New York. Data shared by Northwell Health on Long Island shows a worrying rise across the state. RSV cases have increased by 35 percent, COVID cases by 15 percent, and flu has surged the most, with hospital admissions jumping 75 percent in just one week.

Flu Rising Faster This Year Compared To 2024, Doctors Say

The festive season often brings family gatherings and travel, but it also creates the perfect setting for respiratory viruses to spread. In New York, flu, RSV and COVID cases have climbed steadily since Thanksgiving, and doctors believe numbers will continue to rise through the holidays. “Flu is increasing much faster than what we saw last year,” said Dwayne Breining, senior vice president of lab services at Northwell Health. Speaking to ABC News, Farber added that he has not seen deaths among vaccinated patients, while many severe cases involved people who were unvaccinated.

Flu season usually lasts until early spring, which means doctors say getting vaccinated now can still offer protection. Health experts also emphasise simple but effective habits such as washing hands regularly, wearing a mask if unwell, and skipping holiday events when sick to reduce the risk of spreading infections.

Flu Symptoms You Need To Take Note Of

Common flu symptoms include a sudden fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, extreme tiredness, cough, sore throat, and a blocked or runny nose, often appearing quickly. In some cases, especially among children, vomiting or diarrhoea may also occur. Emergency warning signs include difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe dizziness, confusion, or symptoms that seem to improve but then return and worsen. These signs need urgent medical care, according to the CDC.

What Is H3N2 Subclade K?

H3N2 Subclade K is a more altered version of the influenza A (H3N2) virus, a strain already linked to more severe illness compared to others. A subclade signals genetic changes in the virus, which may help it spread more easily or partially evade immunity gained from past infections or vaccinations.

What Is RSV?

RSV, short for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, is a highly contagious virus that commonly causes respiratory infections. While it often feels like a mild cold, it can lead to serious breathing issues in infants, older adults, and people with weakened immunity. The virus affects the nose, throat and lungs. Most children catch RSV by the age of two, but repeat infections are common. Symptoms include cough, runny nose, fever and wheezing, and medical help is needed if breathing becomes difficult.

Nearly 5 Million Flu Illnesses Reported So Far Nationally

New York City is currently reporting some of the highest flu-like illness levels in the country. States such as Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island and Texas are seeing moderate respiratory illness activity. All other states remain at low or very low levels. The CDC estimates that this flu season has already resulted in at least 4.6 million illnesses, around 49,000 hospitalisations and approximately 1,900 deaths nationwide.