蘑菇传媒

As seen in聽, , and other news sites, scientist Rajendram Rajnarayanan, Ph.D., assistant dean of research and associate professor at NYITCOM-Arkansas, shared insight on the impact of this year鈥檚 flu season. This past summer, as flu season cooled down in the Northern Hemisphere, it intensified in the Southern Hemisphere, allowing influenza A (H3N2) another opportunity to聽mutate.聽Rajnarayanan noted that the mutations 鈥渞eshaped the areas that antibodies recognize,鈥� making previous immunity, including immunity induced by the flu vaccine, less effective. Specifically, this mutation鈥檚 significant antigenic drift, which is when the genes of a virus change, is 鈥渁 real concern.鈥�

鈥淐ountries hit early may have been caught off guard and are scrambling to ramp up countermeasures. With early alerts now coming from our international partners, we have a narrow window to act鈥攂oost stockpiles, issue robust guidance, deploy resources quickly, and reinforce surveillance,鈥� Rajnarayanan said.