With flu cases now rising in Canada, medical experts are bracing for a difficult influenza season linked to the global spread of an evolving H3N2 strain that could be a mismatch for this year’s vaccine.
The ongoing flu season abroad has been marked by record case counts in the southern hemisphere, and an early start to the season across parts of Asia and the U.K. As Canada heads into the winter, it could be a bellwether of what’s to come.
There’s speculation that a mutating type of H3N2 is behind that early surge. It’s a strain of influenza A that’s typically known for more severe infections, especially among older people. But what’s particularly troubling some experts this year is that those latest mutations are widening the gap between this virus and our available flu shot.
I’ve got the flu and Covid shots this year but I still caught a mild but frustratingly long-lasting virus. Haven’t had one that caused me to lose my voice in many years.
Mask up with a reputable, well-fitting N95 in crowded places. I have survived many bus rides with actively secreting people next to me without getting sick since I learned to do it a few years ago. My fav is Moldex 2600 but there are many others.
A lot of the grocery store cashiers where I live are starting to wear masks again. Their employers took away the plexiglass sneeze barriers, so they aren’t taking any chances
Unfortunately good N95 protection isn’t trivially cheap so it really sucks that people often on min wage have to supply their own or get coughed on.
They can be washed and reused at least.
I started wearing a N95 in public during covid and haven’t stopped. Mostly to filter out the body sprays and perfumes so many people wear. Guess I’ll order more masks before there is a run on them.
I wonder if they are reliant on the US CDC. I remember they just cancelled the meeting that discusses what strains to defend against. I figured ours would be useless this year.
Whichever variant(s) the southern hemisphere deals with is what the northern hemisphere’s vaccine is made up of. It reverses for the southern when they head into winter.
Not always. It didn’t work that way for 2026.
Awww fuck. I caught the flu in January and I’ve never been so sick in my life. Worst than COVID. I hope I won’t catch it or that at least the vaccine will help at least a little.
I just got the vaccine and am hoping it works. If not I’ve got lots of masks, including a half-face one. Those should hold me through the winter.
Fyi — washing your hands every time you’re near a sink works wonders as well.
Soap and water, not just a quick rinse.
Yes, handwashing
You’d be very surprised how many people consider a little dribble of water on their hands to be “handwashing”
During covid I got in the habit of washing my hands every time I get home, and using sanitizer whenever I get back into the car after having gone out, and it seems to have really helped too.
