3 flu strains circulating in Iowa do not include H3N2 vaccine escape strain

[Emily]

http://www.stormlakepilottribune.com/story/2144955.html

Three influenza strains circulating in Iowa
Monday, December 8, 2014


The Buena Vista County Public Health Department put out an alert this week on the status of flu illness.

Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) says all three flu viruses covered by this year's vaccine - A(H3N2), A(H1N1) and B - are currently circulating in Iowa. Nationally, an additional A(H3N2) strain is accounting for about half the illness seen across the country so far this year. The CDC says the current influenza vaccine does not offer as effective protection against this strain. So far, this 'drifted' strain of the A(H3N2) virus has not been confirmed by testing in Iowa...