Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Super Flu Now Reached California, Confirm Health Officials

<span>Flu</span> has now reached California, officials at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirmed on Tuesday. The mutated influenza strain, which is dubbed as the 'super flu' is now spreading in California. 

The CDPH confirmed a second pediatric death related to flu since the season of this respiratory virus had started. The 'super flu' strain is the mutation of seasonal influenza A H3N2 virus, called the subclade K. While the cases are on the rise, with some record breaking ER visits and hospitalizations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that the season has not peaked yet, and that there might be more cases in the coming week. 

<h2>What Are The Symptoms Of Super Flu?</h2>

Dr Monica Gandhi, who is an infectious disease expert at UC San Francisco told SFGATE that people infected with the mutated strain will likely get common <span>flu symptoms</span>, such as body aches, fever, cough and headache. "I think this particular strain makes people feel pretty horrible," Gandhi said, and further added, "And the reason that subclade K is important is it may not be covered by the current flu vaccine."

However, experts are still asking people to get vaccinated. In fact, the CDC has also noted that vaccination "has been shown to reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications". However, only 130 million doses of vaccine have been distributed, which covers less than 40% of the US population. "The vaccine remains the most effective means to prevent disease. We still want to encourage people to get the vaccine," said Professor Antonia Ho, Professor and Honorary Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the University of Glasgow. Experts have stressed enough on the immunity that one can receive from the vaccine that that these flu jab remain the best defense against the flu, even though the current strain circulated may have drifted away from the strain included in this year's jab.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also show that vaccines is performing as expect, despite the emergence of subclade K.

K variant causes more intense flu symptoms, they include:

<ul><li>Fever</li><li>Chills</li><li>Headache</li><li>Fatigue</li><li>Cough</li><li>Sore throat</li><li>Runny nose</li></ul>

This year's flu came after the flu vaccination was made, which means the current vaccination does not align with the mutation, however, experts have pointed out that it still continues to offer protection against the illness. 

Flu activity in the state has shown a downtick from the season high at the end of the December. 15% of flu tests have come back positive by January 3, which is down from 17% rate seen during the week ending with December 27. However, the CDC noted that this downtick does not mean the end of flu season, it could rather mean that less cases were reported due to the holiday season. As the agency has warned more such cases to show up in the coming week. 

In fact, hospitalization have been on the rise and hit a season high with 3.8 admissions per 100,000 in the state as of January 3.

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Flu has now reached California, officials at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirmed on Tuesday. The mutated influenza strain, which is dubbed as the 'super flu' is now spreading in California. The CDPH confirmed a second pediatric death related to flu since the season of this respiratory virus had started. The 'super flu' strain is the mutation of seasonal influenza A H3N2 virus, called the subclade K. While the cases are on the rise, with some record breaking ER visits and hospitalizations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that the season has not peaked yet, and that there might be more cases in the coming week. What Are The Symptoms Of Super Flu?Dr Monica Gandhi, who is an infectious disease expert at UC San Francisco told SFGATE that people infected with the mutated strain will likely get common flu symptoms, such as body aches, fever, cough and headache. "I think this particular strain makes people feel pretty horrible," Gandhi said, and further added, "And the reason that subclade K is important is it may not be covered by the current flu vaccine."However, experts are still asking people to get vaccinated. In fact, the CDC has also noted that vaccination "has been shown to reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications". However, only 130 million doses of vaccine have been distributed, which covers less than 40% of the US population. "The vaccine remains the most effective means to prevent disease. We still want to encourage people to get the vaccine," said Professor Antonia Ho, Professor and Honorary Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the University of Glasgow. Experts have stressed enough on the immunity that one can receive from the vaccine that that these flu jab remain the best defense against the flu, even though the current strain circulated may have drifted away from the strain included in this year's jab.Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also show that vaccines is performing as expect, despite the emergence of subclade K.K variant causes more intense flu symptoms, they include:FeverChillsHeadacheFatigueCoughSore throatRunny noseThis year's flu came after the flu vaccination was made, which means the current vaccination does not align with the mutation, however, experts have pointed out that it still continues to offer protection against the illness. Update On Flu ActivityFlu activity in the state has shown a downtick from the season high at the end of the December. 15% of flu tests have come back positive by January 3, which is down from 17% rate seen during the week ending with December 27. However, the CDC noted that this downtick does not mean the end of flu season, it could rather mean that less cases were reported due to the holiday season. As the agency has warned more such cases to show up in the coming week. In fact, hospitalization have been on the rise and hit a season high with 3.8 admissions per 100,000 in the state as of January 3.