Uk flu virus

Influenza vaccines protect against four different strains of the flu: H3N2, H1N1 and two strains of influenza B. Hensley's study only covers H3N2, but that happens to be the main circulating strain.

The vaccine mismatch may help explain an outbreak of flu at the University of Michigan last month that affected more than people. That indicates the vaccine was not effective in preventing infection. It's what flu viruses do, Hensley said. Flu viruses mutate all the time—far more than other viruses, including the coronavirus.

And different variations can circulate at the same time. But this version of H3N2 has changes that help it escape the antibodies the body makes in response to vaccines. Flu and Covid cases rising in much of the US. Read More. Antibodies are the first line of defense against invaders like viruses, and the current vaccine doesn't seem to generate any of the right antibodies against this new, mutated version of H3N2, called 2a2 for short. Luckily, the changes are unlikely to affect the second line of defense offered by immune system -- cells called T-cells, so even if the vaccines don't protect against infection, they are likely to protect people against severe disease and death, Hensley said.

It's not published in a peer reviewed journal. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said influenza virtually disappeared last year, but it's coming back this year. The big fear is a "double whammy" of flu and Covid Yes, there will be a flu season this year, CDC says. The two groups - both with just over , patients - included people seeking healthcare for symptoms three to six months after infection.

These included problems such as anxiety, abnormal breathing, fatigue and headaches. Both groups included people who were likely to have been quite ill with the viruses so the rates of persistent illness should not be seen as representative of the general population. But the researchers said it did suggest both viruses could cause long-term problems that took time to get over.

Prof Paul Harrison, one of the lead researchers, said: "Many of us who have experienced flu know how you don't always feel completely better as quickly as you've been hoping or expecting to. The higher rate in the Covid group could have been influenced by the fact that people may be more likely to seek care for long-term symptoms or the way symptoms are recorded for Covid. However, on balance they said it was likely persistent symptoms were more common for Covid than flu.

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