Khaberni - Doctors have warned of a new and dangerous strain of influenza that is causing very severe illness in children, and senior pediatricians have urged parents to vaccinate their children with the nasal spray that provides protection against influenza, amid fears of a particularly harsh season this year, according to the British newspaper "Daily Mail".
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has confirmed that even previously healthy children can suffer severe illness due to the flu, as it is believed that an annoying mutated strain of the virus is behind the early and worrying rise in flu cases, which experts believe could be more severe than usual.
Dr. Helen Stewart, the health improvement officer at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), said: "It seems that this year will be particularly bad as flu infection rates at this stage are much higher than at the same time last year, and we know that there are some changes in the spreading virus, meaning people might become more susceptible to infection, and unfortunately, flu is not restricted to the elderly or those suffering from long-term chronic diseases, but can also severely affect previously healthy children."
She continued: "The flu can be deadly as children die every year because of it, so it’s not just a strong cold; the most common complications we see include pneumonia which is a severe chest infection needing respiratory support and may evolve in some cases to septic shock and extremely severe conditions."
At this time, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that the mutated strain only appeared in June, so it is unexpected that the vaccine will provide full protection against this version of the virus, although experts warned that vaccination is still very necessary as it can reduce the severity of symptoms even if it does not completely prevent infection.
What is the new strain?.. and its relationship to the quadruple epidemic
Although the new strain of H3N2 is different from the strain in this year's vaccines, the vaccines provide a degree of protection against it, and against other strains that may spread during the winter.
Leading virologists worry that the severe outbreak of influenza may make people more susceptible to contracting other seasonal diseases at the same time, such as Norovirus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and cold-like diseases.
Officials have urged people who have a cough, sore throat, or runny nose to avoid contact with vulnerable groups like the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic diseases for fear of infecting them with winter viruses that could cause serious illness.
They pointed out that the so-called "quadruple epidemic" which combines influenza with COVID, Noro, and RSV virus might impose additional pressure on the healthcare system. As Dr. Simon Clarke, an infectious disease expert at the University of Reading, told the Daily Mail: "There is strong evidence that influenza and COVID can infect a person at the same time, and given the similarity of symptoms, it can be very difficult to distinguish between different viruses without precise testing."
Clarke also explained that there are also indications that getting the flu may temporarily protect the body against the RSV virus for several months, yet people can be infected with both viruses at the same time, which may lead to more severe symptoms.
Last week, British health authorities issued a warning after a rapid rise in influenza cases that seem to be spreading faster than usual.
Experts believe that the cause may be due to the H3N2 strain mutating seven times during the summer, making it more aggressive, especially for the elderly.
The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency shows that most of the viruses analyzed belong to the H3N2 strain, and flu infection rates remain three times higher than usual at this time of the year, with the highest rates among children and youth.
Field reports suggest that the H3N2 strain may cause more severe body pain, longer fatigue, and sudden onset of symptoms.
Symptoms of the H3N2 flu strain
Initial symptoms of the H3N2 virus include:
Elevated fever
Persistent dry cough
Sore throat
Body aches
Muscle pain
Severe fatigue
Weakness
Headache
Nasal discharge or congestion
Chills and sweating
Groups most at risk and advised to get booster doses:
People over 65
Individuals with chronic diseases
Healthcare and social care workers
Pregnant women.
Transmission methods of the virus
Direct contact with an infected person
Touching surfaces or objects contaminated by the virus and then touching the mouth
Eating food handled by an infected person.
Ways to prevent the spreading strain
Proper hand hygiene and frequent washing
Use of face masks
Avoid direct contact with infected individuals
Covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing
Regularly disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched
