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A European Union country has reported the first confirmed case of a mutated H3N2 influenza strain, informally referred to by the media as the “super flu.” Health experts across the continent are expressing growing concern.
Mutated H3N2 Raises Alarm
According to Romania’s National Institute of Public Health (INSP), the altered virus strain was recently detected in the country. Authorities warn that it may lead to more severe illness, particularly among vulnerable populations.
The INSP highlights increased risks for older adults, pregnant individuals, people with chronic health conditions, and those with weakened immune systems. Residents of long-term care facilities are also considered highly vulnerable. At the same time, experts believe that vaccination is still likely to offer protection against severe disease.
Flu Season Hits Europe Earlier Than Usual
The H3N2 variant has been circulating in several European countries for months. Specialists suspect that the mutated virus is not only more contagious but may also cause more severe cases and hospitalizations compared to previous seasons.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) estimates that up to 50 million symptomatic infections occur across Europe in a typical flu season. As many as 70,000 people die each year from influenza-related complications. Children are particularly prone to disease and are considered key transmitters within households.
- Hector Pascua with reports from kleinezeitung.at/picture: pixabay.com
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