Newer Flu Strain Not Covered By Latest Flu ShotsPOSTED: 4:32 pm EST February 11,
2008 The following is a transcript of a report by medical editor Marilyn Brooks that first aired Feb. 11, 2008, on WTAE Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m. There's a new flu strain making people sick, and the Health Department said it can't do anything to stop it.After a late start, the flu virus is spreading quickly, hitting local counties hard. Allegheny County has 294 cases, with Washington and Westmoreland in the 100s.According to health officials, most of the flu strains aren't knocked off by the flu shot, either.Every year, public health officials try to predict what strains of influenza viruses are going to make people sick. Pharmaceutical houses make up the vaccine based on those predictions. This year, health officials missed a new strain of virus from Brisbane, Australia.This year's vaccine is for Type A Solomon Islands, Type A Wisconsin and Type B Malasia, but those strains aren't circulating.The CDC is tracking a new strain of h3n2 virus, called Brisbane-10. Unidentified until last February, it was too late to be included in this year's flu vaccine. Type B Yamagata strain is also circulating. It's not in this year's vaccine either.According to the CDC, 34 percent of flu samples are Type A Brisbane. Roughly 16 percent are influenza B, and 93 percent of those are Yamagata.Forty-four percent of all flu cases are those two strains.As for the current vaccine, Defense Department studies show the Wisconsin flu strain in this year's vaccine might protect you against Brisbane. Some may get only mild symptoms, but experts said the current vaccine won't prevent infection for all. Related Links: More County NewsGet RSS | E-Mail Alerts Copyright 2008 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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