What is the H3N2 flu strain? Advice and symptoms as UK cases rise

It is the season of the year when all people seem to be caught and all the colds are spreading. However, it was cautioned that this winter may turn out to be one of the worst ever- already this year is being devasted by the worst flu outbreak in decades, and the NHS has been crippled by it.

The new H3N2 strain has been described by health bosses as being unpleasant and they have warned the NHS of a tidal wave of disease before the Christmas period. 

Admission of people with flu in hospitals is already 56 per cent that it was at the same time last year, and experts state that the season has not reached its peak yet.

H3N2 is one of the strains of the influenza virus and it is known as one of the two that have become extensively spread. It is also referred to as subclade K and is currently the most predominant one in England, as per the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

And the letters and numbers, according to Dr Aragona, have been given the names of the protein on the surface of the virus, haemagglutinn (H) and neuraminidase (N). According to him, the combination of the two can be very dangerous in provoking more serious illness, particularly among the aged, or individuals with prior health problems.

“H3N2 changes regularly, so the version of the virus circulating this year may be different from previous years may be different from previous years or from the one in the seasonal vaccine, which can make people more susceptible,” he added. 

The UKHSA states that the flu signs and symptoms develop very quickly and extreme fatigue is a typical symbol, unlike the colds which manifest themselves more slowly. H3N2 illness has had symptoms and severity similar to seasonal flu, which has involved fever, cough, runny nose, and perhaps other symptoms, such as body aches, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

NHS England reported that 1717 patients were admitted to the hospitals in England daily last week with the infection, an increase of 56 percent compared to the same week in the past year.

The UK is on the verge of a season of deaths caused by the flu in the coming winter and NHS leaders acted out a flu jab SOS in their bid to persuade people to be vaccinated. According to UKHSA, 8000 people died of flu last winter. This is more than the number of deaths of about 3500 that were realised the previous year, yet less than in the 2022 to 2023 season when the number of deaths was about 16,000.