whats H3N2 virus? - 2023 March

H3N2 is a subtype of the influenza A virus, which is one of the strains of seasonal flu that circulates each year. H3N2 is known to cause more severe symptoms than other strains of the flu, and it can lead to more hospitalizations and deaths, especially in older adults, young children, and people with underlying health conditions.

The H3N2 virus is an RNA virus that mutates frequently, which makes it difficult to develop effective vaccines against it. The flu vaccine is updated every year to try to match the strains of influenza that are expected to be most prevalent that season, including H3N2.

Symptoms of H3N2 are similar to those of other strains of the flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Treatment usually involves getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids, and taking over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms. Antiviral medications may also be prescribed in some cases to reduce the severity of the illness and shorten its duration.