The subclade K variant of the influenza A (H3N2) virus was reported by the Centers for Disease Control yesterday as the dominant flu strain in many countries, adding that flu vaccines were still effective in reducing the risk of severe illness.
CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) made the remarks following recent reports in the US and European countries about the emergence of subclade K, as well as a Taiwanese travel influencer warning of the flu situation in Japan — citing data from the Japan Institute for Health Security — and saying subclade K has been detected in EU countries, the UK, the US and Canada.
The CDC’s laboratory first detected subclade K in July, she said.
Photo: Taipei Times
The percentages of it being observed in H3N2 virus samples have rapidly increased from accounting for 30.8 percent of the samples in July to 65.7 percent in August, 88.6 percent in September and 87.7 percent in October, she added.
It is estimated that subclade K accounted for more than 90 percent of the H3N2 virus samples last month and is the dominant strain circulating locally, Tseng said, adding that flu data from other countries suggested that subclade K might have higher transmissibility than previous variants.
A European Center for Disease Prevention and Control analysis showed a significant divergence of subclade K from the northern hemisphere A(H3N2) vaccine strain for the 2025-2026 flu season, she said.
There could be more breakthrough infections, which is when an infection develops from a pathogen after vaccination, this flu season, she added.
Analysis from other countries suggested that protection against “infection” provided by the flu vaccine this flu season could be less effective as subclade K dominates, Tseng said.
However, the vaccine still provides protection against “severe disease and hospitalization” after infection, she added.
While Taiwan entered a relatively early epidemic period between late September and October, cases have lessened after government-funded vaccination began on Oct 1, and the epidemic period ended early last month, Tseng said.
However, the CDC estimated that flu cases would again increase after the New Year, peaking around the Lunar New Year holidays in February next year, so people who are at higher risk of developing severe illness from infection are advised to get vaccinated as early as possible, she said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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