Kanawha health director calls flu strain "a real butt kicker"
WV MetroNews • • health
Key Points:
- Kanawha County’s Chief Health Officer, Dr. Steven Eshenaur, reported that this year’s flu strain, H3N2, is more severe than expected, causing significant symptoms even in young, healthy individuals.
- The H3N2 strain includes symptoms such as aches, fever, stomach pain, and nausea, and has led to widespread illness, prompting remote learning at Magnolia High School due to high absenteeism.
- A pediatric death in Ohio linked to this flu strain highlights its potential severity, especially for vulnerable populations.
- The current flu vaccine is less effective against the new H3N2 strain, but health officials still strongly recommend vaccination to reduce illness severity and hospitalizations, particularly among the elderly.
