New Flu Variant May Be Triggering Spike in Severe Disease

Scientific AmericanTuesday, December 16, 2025 at 5:05:00 PM
NegativeScience
  • A novel influenza variant known as subclade K is reportedly causing an increase in severe disease cases and hospitalizations across the U.S. and other countries. This uptick raises alarms among health officials as they monitor the impact of this variant during the ongoing flu season.
  • The emergence of subclade K is concerning as it may complicate public health responses, particularly in light of potential changes to vaccine approval processes that could affect accessibility and affordability of flu vaccines for children.
  • The current flu season is already showing signs of severity, with other strains like H3N2 spreading rapidly. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges in managing influenza outbreaks, especially as health authorities grapple with multiple viral threats, including the recent human death linked to the H5N5 bird flu strain.
— via World Pulse Now AI Editorial System

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