In a statement, the Malbrán Institute confirmed the discovery of three cases of influenza A (H3N2) subclass K. They are the first cases identified in the country.
The cases of the flu, which is causing a widespread epidemic in several European countries, were detected by the National Network of Laboratories and Sentinel Units.
Specifically, the samples analyzed come from two adolescents with influenza who were examined in the province of Santa Cruz and from a child admitted to a hospital in the city of Buenos Aires.
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According to reports, the disease progressed without complications in all patients.
The genomic analysis allowed the viruses to be classified into subclass K, which has genetic alterations associated with higher transmissibility, which could favor an increase in the number of cases and consultations with the health system. However, the evidence available to date does not suggest that this subclass is associated with greater clinical severity compared to other influenza A viruses (H3N2) that circulated in previous seasons.
The Ministry of Health gave the usual care recommendations:
◆ Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
◆ When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with the crook of your elbow.
◆ Avoid sharing personal items.
◆ Clean and disinfect surfaces that come into contact with sick people.
◆ Properly ventilate the environments.
◆ Consult if you have respiratory problems.
◆ Children aged 6 to 24 months, pregnant and postpartum women, people aged 2 to 64 years with risk factors, people over 65 years old, and health and strategic personnel should receive the flu vaccine once a year.
It is also recommended to have up-to-date vaccination schedules against the various respiratory infections included in the National Vaccination Calendar.
From the Argentine Association of Respiratory Medicine, they stated that early vaccination “should be promoted and encouraged, especially in older adults, pregnant people, young children and people with chronic diseases.”
On the other hand, Dr. Mario Fitz Maurice, head of the cardiology service at Rivadavia Hospital and director of Inadea, that “it is not a completely new strain, but a variant of the influenza A virus (H3N2). It is a mutation that makes the virus more contagious and slightly better at evading immunity from vaccinations or previous infections.”
Argentinian Marta Cohen, originally from England, a pathologist who works in that country and dedicates herself to disseminating issues related to her profession, recalled that “in Europe the number of weekly cases of this type of flu is increasing, but that was to be expected. A case has also been detected in Mexico.” The expert recommended that people with health problems or comorbidities complete their flu vaccination schedule as soon as possible to avoid risks.
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