A new flu is worrying health authorities and doctors in Europe, after the contamination in October of a 76-year-old man living in Italy who had to be urgently hospitalized. Other isolated cases in Lombardy, Lazio (Rome region) and Piedmont have been observed. It is believed to be a flu caused by a subtype of the H3N2 strain A virus which normally circulates in the southern hemisphere. Epidemiologists nicknamed it “the Australian flu” because it was responsible for the country's second most serious flu season in the last 10 years.
What distinguishes it from the classic seasonal flu is its aggressiveness. “It is a variant of the influenza virus known to be particularly immuno-evasive, that is to say capable of thwarting part of the immune system's defenses.explains in a publication of San Donato Group (first Italian hospital group) Professor Fabrizio Pregliasco, health director of IRCCS Galeazzi and virologist from the University of Milan, at the origin of the alert.
In addition to the typical symptoms of classic seasonal flu, it is accompanied by new worrying symptoms, linked to the brain, with a risk – “rare but it exists” – encephalitis, a potentially fatal inflammation of the brain. The clinical picture of this flu is complex: generally, a high fever (above 38°C) appears suddenly, with at least one respiratory symptom (either a blocked or runny nose) and at least one general symptom such as muscle or joint pain. Then, other symptoms may occur: a dry cough, loss of appetite, chills, headaches, bone pain, fatigue, or even digestive symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. If the virus reaches the brain, especially in older people, there may be a kind of obtundation (brain fog, editor's note) and confusion.
In general, symptoms appear 1 to 2 days after contamination and last between 4 and 7 days. Sometimes they persist for 2 weeks. Rest and good hydration are essential to promote healing. Fever and pain can be relieved with medication, in agreement with the doctor. The flu vaccine provides protection against Australian flu and remains recommended for vulnerable people (elderly, immunocompromised, suffering from a chronic illness, etc.). “Simply get a tetravalent vaccine (vaccine that protects against several strains), to be safe from the age of 60-65 and of course if you are fragile. I would not do “terrorism on the flu”, when it is not necessary: remember that a case does not make a statistic“, recommends epidemiologist Massimo Ciccozzi, professor at Campus Bio-Medico University, whose comments were reported by the Italian media Fortune Health.
Certain subtypes of the H3N2 virus circulate in France every winter. But not the subtype responsible for Australian flu. Should we fear its arrival? It all depends on the temperatures. “If the cold arrives early and is intense and prolonged, we could see a higher prevalence of Australian flu, replies the virologist. If there are temperature fluctuations as is currently the case in Europe, other so-called flu-like viruses will circulate as a priority such as adenovirus, rhinovirus, metapneumovirus or even Covid-19.
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