A mysterious virus that has overwhelmed hospitals in China has now spread to Russia and the UK, with Russia reporting a 20% rise in A(H3N2) flu cases and the strain dubbed ‘superflu’ becoming England’s most dominant virus
A perplexing virus that previously overwhelmed hospitals in China has now made its way to Russia, with reports indicating a roughly 20% surge in cases.
Russia is grappling with over 23,400 influenza cases, with just above 80% of samples revealing the A(H3N2) strain as the most prevalent virus, according to Russian federal agency Rospotrebnadzor.
The first instance of the A(H3N2) virus in Russia is thought to have been reported in October, but that number has swiftly escalated in regions such as the Far East, Siberia, the Urals, and the Northwest. Rospotrebnadzor told publication LIFE RU that the case count aligns with seasonal trends. However, the number of cases continues to climb, making it the only virus with an upward trajectory.
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Kremlin working to curb the increase
In addition to this, Russia is witnessing a 13.7% rise in COVID-19 cases, which equates to approximately 11,000, reports the Daily Star.
The Kremlin has been proactively working to curb the increase in influenza virus cases through a successful vaccination campaign, resulting in 78.3 million people now vaccinated.
This staggering figure means that 53.2% of the population in Putin’s Russia have received the vaccine.
Meanwhile, China continues to grapple with a growing number of A(H3N2) flu strain cases, affecting numerous hospitals from major cities like Beijing and Tianjin to provinces including Hebei, Henan, Guangdong, Fujian, Shandong, Shanxi and beyond.
Fears of a potential epidemic have heightened after Peng Zhibin, an expert at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Communist Party of China, announced that China’s flu infection rate had sharply escalated in late November.
A Chinese resident expressed their concern on social media, writing: “On the evening of November 23rd, around 8 PM, I went to the Beijing Children’s Hospital, and didn’t get home until 1 AM. The flu has been so terrifying lately, all sorts of… all sorts of..”
Data from the Alibaba Health platform reveals a staggering 500% increase in purchases of flu antiviral medications between November 10-21, fueling concerns about a significant impending epidemic.
The virus has also made its way to the UK, where the A(H3N2) strain has earned the moniker ‘superflu’.
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Also referred to as subclade K, it is currently the most dominant strain in England, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
In a conversation with the Independent, Dr Giuseppe Aragona stated: “H3N2 changes regularly, so the version of the virus circulating this year may be different from previous years or from the one in the seasonal vaccine, which can make people more susceptible.”
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