\n
Influenza and other respiratory viruses are surging, Dr Wenqing Zhang, Unit Head for Global Respiratory Threats at the Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Threats Management of the World Health Organization (WHO) told reporters in Geneva, and this year is marked by \u201cthe emergence and the rapid expansion of a new AH3N2 virus subclade\u201d.<\/p>\n
The new variant – called J.2.4.1 or subclade K – was first noted in August in Australia and New Zealand and has since been detected in over 30 countries, she said.<\/p>\n
DNA shape-shifter<\/h2>\n
\u201cCurrent epidemiological data do not indicate an increase in disease severity, although this genetic shift makes a notable evolution in the virus,\u201d Dr Zhang said.<\/p>\n
Influenza viruses are constantly evolving, she explained, which is why the influenza\u00a0vaccine composition is regularly updated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWHO tracks these changes, assesses associated risks to public health\u00a0and makes vaccine composition recommendations twice a year,\u00a0through a longstanding global system \u2013 the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), in collaboration with other\u00a0global experts,\u201d Dr. Zhang said.<\/p>\n
The new variant (has not been incorporated into?) is not part of the composition of<\/em>\u00a0the latest vaccines produced for the Northern Hemisphere influenza season, the WHO expert explained.<\/p>\nStill, \u201cearly\u00a0evidence suggests that current seasonal vaccines continue to offer protection against severe diseases and reduce the risk of hospital hospitalization,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
WHO estimates that there are around one billion cases of seasonal influenza annually, including up to five million cases of severe respiratory illness. Up to 650\u202f000 deaths each year are owing to seasonal influenza-related respiratory disease.<\/p>\n
Risk-reduction advice<\/h2>\n
\u201cVaccination remains our most effective defence, including against drifted strains, particularly for high-risk populations and those taking care of them,\u201d Dr Zhang insisted.<\/p>\n
The WHO expert shared the results of an early estimation of the vaccine\u2019s effectiveness against the new variant, published in the United Kingdom some weeks ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s quite promising,\u201d she said, pointing to the data which showed that the vaccine is around 75 per cent effective against severe disease and hospitalization in children and around 35 per cent among adults.<\/p>\n
Dr Zhang warned that the upcoming holiday season may bring a further surge in respiratory illnesses. \u201cAdvanced planning and preparedness efforts, including encouraging vaccination uptake and strengthening health system readiness, are strongly recommended,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The WHO expert advised countries to strengthen lab diagnostics and year\u2011round\u00a0disease\u00a0surveillance and to participate\u00a0in the WHO GISRS\u00a0surveillance network.<\/p>\n
Global monitoring remains key<\/h2>\n
The network comprises influenza centres in 130 countries as well as a dozen reference laboratories.<\/p>\n
Asked about whether the United States\u00a0will remain a member of the network next year despite the country\u2019s decision to leave WHO, effective 22 January 2026, Dr Zhang said that\u00a0\u201cfrom the flu perspective, from the respiratory surveillance and preparedness perspective, certainly we would need all the countries in the world to participate in the surveillance, preparedness and a response for influenza and other respiratory viruses because we don’t know the next pandemic strain, when and where it would emerge\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that time between the emergence and being picked up and characterized and put into vaccines\u2026it would make a lot of difference with regards to the number of lives that could be saved,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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