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Hot topic - Fujian-like strain A influenza13 November 2003 - written by Bupa's Health Information Team There is concern in the UK about a strain of influenza (Fujian-like strain A influenza) that has reached Britain. It is a more virulent strain of the flu virus and experts believe that it might cause a flu epidemic. What is Fujian-like strain A influenza?All forms of flu are caused by influenza viruses and they fall into three categories: A, B and C. Fujian-like influenza is an A-type virus. It is the A-types that are normally responsible for flu epidemics. While influenza B and C viruses are less easily spread and tend to cause less severe illness. There are many different strains of the A-type flu virus and new ones develop every year. Depending on the way that the virus has developed, the strains can be spread more easily (or less easily) and cause more (or less) severe illness. The Fujian-like strain has developed in a way that makes it spread more easily than other A-type strains that have been circulating in the UK population over the past few years and it causes more severe symptoms. It also seems to spread easily among children and young adults. Why is this strain causing concern?Over the past few years a fairly mild strain of the influenza virus, known as the A (H3N2) Panama-like virus, has been circulating. Because this strain is not as virulent as the Fujian-like strain A influenza, levels of flu have been particularly low in the UK over the past few years. In addition, this year's flu vaccination jab was designed with the Panama-like strain in mind. However, Fujian-like strain A is spread more rapidly through the population. It also causes more severe illness in people than the Panama-like strain. This year's flu jab was not designed with strain in mind and does not offer complete protection against it. Because of these facts, experts are more concerned that this year could see a flu epidemic in Britain, much like the one experienced in Australia in August 2003. What is the Australian experience of Fujian-like strain A influenza?Australia has just experienced one of its biggest influenza seasons since 1998. During August 2003, all regions in Australia (except the Northern Territory) reported large outbreaks of influenza and this was the period of peak influenza activity. New Zealand also experienced high levels of influenza throughout June and July 2003. (For more facts and figures, the Australian Government's "Communicable Diseases Australia" conducts national influenza surveillance: http://www.cda.gov.au/surveil/ozflu/flucurr.htm) Because of the Fujian-like strain's greater virulence, particularly among children and teenagers, schools were hit hard by the disease. Newspapers in Australia reported that that schools suffered large numbers of absences and one high school reported 179 of its 426 students being absent due to illness. Also, hospitals experienced an increase in demand: for example, in Adelaide non-urgent surgery was postponed due to demand for beds to cope with patients suffering from influenza while in Hobart there were several hospital admissions due to influenza. From: http://www.influenzacentre.org/flunews.htm Who is most vulnerable to this strain of influenza?Children and young adults appear to be particularly affected when compared with other members of the population. This is often the case when new strains of viruses begin to circulate. What can you do to protect yourself?The best protection against influenza is to have an annual flu vaccination jab. Another precaution is to maintain a good hand hygiene (especially before eating). This is because people's hands can pick up the virus from touching door handles or shaking hands. The virus can then find its way into a person's body by their hands touching their mouth, eyes or nose. How does the flu jab get created each year?Each year, scientists from the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance Network monitor the strains of flu virus that are circulating in humans round the world. The network consists of 112 National Influenza Centres in 83 countries. Any new strains are rapidly identified and their makeup investigated. Based on information collected by the Network, the WHO annually recommends a vaccine recipe that normally protects against the 3 most virulent strains in circulation. For more on the role of the WHO in flu vaccination, please see the WHO's influenza factsheet: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/2003/fs211/en/. What strains of flu are in this year's vaccination?This year's flu jab is made up to offer full protection to the following strains of flu:
*The widely used vaccine strain is A/Panama/2007/99 Unfortunately, it does not contain a perfect match for the Fujian-like virus. However, the jab does offer some protection against it. How much protection does this year's flu jab offer against H3N2 Fujian-like strain A?According to Dr John Watson, a respiratory expert at the HPA, the current flu vaccine contains the Panama-like virus and is considered to offer some protection against the Fujian-like strain and good protection against other strains that may also circulate. Who is the flu jab recommended for?The UK Department of Health provides a free flu jab for people at "high risk" at their local GP's surgery. People at higher risk include:
For more on the UK Department of Health's Flu Immunisation campaign, see: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/Flu/FluGeneralInformation/FluGeneral/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4087158&chk=Kq7ZSC. See also, the UK Department of Health's Keep your guard up against flu leaflet: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4091165&chk=YCZoDw. If you are not in one of the higher-risk categories above, you can still have the flu jab if you wish. You can pay for to receive the vaccination from a private doctor and some employers offer the flu jab to their employees each year. Is there anyone who shouldn't have the flu jab?People with a serious allergy to hens' eggs shouldn't be vaccinated and flu immunisation is normally avoided during pregnancy. What are the symptoms of flu?The symptoms of flu include:
The following symptoms may also happen:
For more on flu and its symptoms, please see our factsheet on colds and flu http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/colds.html. What can you do if you catch flu?
For more advice and help, please read our colds and flu factsheet: http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/colds.html. Links for more information
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