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Source: https://www.9news.com.au/national/fl...5-94e020d20d5d
Flu strain 'mutates' amid deadly season - but vaccine still essential say doctors
By 9News Staff
8:14am Jul 6, 2019
A monster strain of the flu has mutated, making the flu vaccine potentially ineffective.
It comes amid a horror flu season which could get worse, according to experts.
28 people have been killed and more than 120,000 Australians have been hit by the virus so far this year.
World Health Organisation Influenza Centre spokeswoman Professor Kanta Subbarao told News Corp that testing shows the H3N2 strain of flu ? just one of the strains ? has mutated.
Doctors are warning that people should continue to get vaccinated as it protects against other strains and should reduce the severity of any infection.
?On the surface of the influenza virus there are a couple of proteins called H and N,? Dr Penny Adams explained.
?Sometimes those pre proteins can change slightly. We make vaccines to target those proteins.
?If the proteins change our vaccines might not be as effective
?The flu vaccine we have all got this winter it is effective? (It) covers four strains. It is only one strain that has changed. (The vaccine) is still effective for the others...
Flu strain 'mutates' amid deadly season - but vaccine still essential say doctors
By 9News Staff
8:14am Jul 6, 2019
A monster strain of the flu has mutated, making the flu vaccine potentially ineffective.
It comes amid a horror flu season which could get worse, according to experts.
28 people have been killed and more than 120,000 Australians have been hit by the virus so far this year.
World Health Organisation Influenza Centre spokeswoman Professor Kanta Subbarao told News Corp that testing shows the H3N2 strain of flu ? just one of the strains ? has mutated.
Doctors are warning that people should continue to get vaccinated as it protects against other strains and should reduce the severity of any infection.
?On the surface of the influenza virus there are a couple of proteins called H and N,? Dr Penny Adams explained.
?Sometimes those pre proteins can change slightly. We make vaccines to target those proteins.
?If the proteins change our vaccines might not be as effective
?The flu vaccine we have all got this winter it is effective? (It) covers four strains. It is only one strain that has changed. (The vaccine) is still effective for the others...