Flu Cases Surging In CT: What To Know About Subclade K Mutation
Patch••health
Key Points:
- Flu activity is high or very high in 48 states, including Connecticut, with over 11 million cases and 5,000 deaths reported nationwide this season, driven by the new “subclade K” mutation of the influenza A strain H3NS.
- Connecticut has reported more than 18,000 flu cases, alongside elevated RSV and COVID-19 cases, but influenza remains the primary concern for healthcare providers due to the mutation emerging after the vaccine selection, limiting vaccine effectiveness.
- The subclade K mutation has caused a more severe flu season globally and has become the dominant strain in the U.S. since late September, evading some pre-existing immunity from prior infections or vaccinations.
- Despite the vaccine mismatch, health experts and the
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-22400154171-19eb2573d96647f8894478942b5721be.jpg)
