A new flu strain was found in the Southern hemisphere this summer, and it could impact Kentucky's flu season.

What to expect from the flu this year and tonight's medical news.

This year's flu season looks a lot like last year's flu season.

We started to see an uptick in cases in the middle of November, which was maybe a week or two earlier than last year, but not substantially different.

It's too soon to predict what the season will be like, but we can take some hints from what has been happening in other countries.

So at the end of the flu season in the southern hemisphere, so late summer, a new strain of influenza H3n2 emerged.

This was a drifted strain that had, several mutations.

It's called supply chain K. And what we know is that strain of influenza AH3 into, it presented itself after the vaccine was already made.

And so this year's flu vaccine is not a terrific match with that particular strain of flu.

I can tell you locally, we are seeing influenza A H3n2, circulating.

And that's what we're seeing most commonly.

I can't tell you if it's the drifted strain because we don't test for that locally, even when there is a, imperfect match between one of the circulating flu strains and the vaccine.

The vaccine still protects against severe outcomes like hospitalization and death.

So I don't want people to get the idea that flu vaccine isn't effective.

Remember, we also have three strains of flu that are circulating.

And and so the vaccine is the very best protection.

Last year, the flu season was severe, for people of all ages.

And one factor that likely played into that is that influenza immunization rates were low.

And so this year it appears that vaccination, is is still lagging a bit last year.

In the US, we had 280 children die of complications related to the flu.

About half of those, just under half of those were previously healthy children who did not have underlying health conditions.

89% of them were unimmunized.

So flu is a vaccine preventable illness, and there is still time, to protect yourself and your family, from influenza.

Doctor Bryant says that though the flu is caused by a virus, there is medication that can help those most at risk for complications.

If caught early.

She encourages those who test positive for the flu to talk to their doctor and see if antiviral medicine is right for them.