Flu season is characterised by regular outbreaks of the influenza virus.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is responsible for monitoring viruses and recommending which flu strains are most likely to break out during flu season.
In 2019, the WHO has identified four strains as the most likely to circulate:
– A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
– A/Kansas/14/2017 (H3N2)-like virus;
– B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus (B/Victoria/2/87 lineage); and
– B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage).
Once identified, health services include viruses in the flu jab, given to those most vulnerable to flu symptoms.
