Virologist warned Volgograd about the mutated Hong Kong flu
According to an infectious disease doctor, the H3N2 virus has undergone significant changes
The Hong Kong flu has changed dramatically this season, with genes that Russians do not have herd immunity to. This was reported by RIA Novosti virologist Elena Malinnikova.
Because of this, the composition of Russian vaccines has been completely updated, replacing all three strains compared to last season.
“There are concerns that changes in this virus carry genes for which we have insufficiently developed herd immunity,” she said. Hong Kong H3N2 has been circulating in humans for more than 50 years, since 1968, and is constantly drifting, changing its “antigenic face.”.
“Our antibodies may not recognize this virus, and you can get sick,” Malinnikova said. To avoid an epidemic or pandemic, it is necessary to develop herd immunity to new influenza variants.
