New ‘subclade K’ variant could trigger a severe flu season

“Every winter is a different flu season,” said Barouch. “Some seasons are more severe than others, and in some seasons the vaccines are more effective. It is largely driven by mutations that occur every year in flu.” Those gradual changes, known as antigenic drift, can make vaccines less effective at preventing infection and contribute to a more severe flu season.

“The impact of those mutations is still being studied, so we do not know for sure,” Barouch said. “But it is likely that those mutations will result in partial evasion of the current vaccine and a more rapid spread.” Read Full Article…