Wed Dec 17 16:20:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text followed by a news article rewritten from it:
Summary:
A new mutation of the influenza A(H3N2) strain, called subclade K, is driving an early surge in flu cases and hospitalizations in Texas and the rest of the country. This new variant’s mutation is making the current flu vaccine less effective due to antigenic drift. Texas is experiencing more than double the weekly flu cases compared to this time last year, with a significant increase in hospitalizations, particularly among those aged 65 and older. Despite the reduced effectiveness against subclade K, health officials still recommend getting vaccinated as it can still offer protection against other flu strains and reduce the severity of illness. The flu season is expected to worsen, making vaccination now a priority.
News Article:
New Flu Variant Fuels Early Surge in Texas Cases, Hospitalizations
TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – Texas is experiencing an early and significant surge in influenza cases and hospitalizations, driven by a newly emerged mutation of the influenza A(H3N2) strain, known as subclade K. Health officials are warning that this new variant is showing resistance to the current flu vaccine.
Data from Texas Health and Human Services reveals a dramatic increase in flu activity. For three consecutive weeks (ending Nov. 22, Nov. 29, and Dec. 6), the state has recorded over 5,000 weekly clinic/hospital visits related to the flu. This is more than double the number of cases seen during the same period last year. In East Texas, those numbers reach around 250 hospital/clinic visits per week.
Hospitalizations are also on the rise, particularly among older adults. For the week ending Dec. 6, 7.4 out of every 100,000 Texans aged 65 and older were hospitalized with the flu, compared to just 2.2 per 100,000 a month prior.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), subclade K has undergone “antigenic drift,” meaning the virus has mutated in a way that makes it less recognizable to the antibodies produced by this year’s vaccine. The change means that parts of the virus recognized by the immune system changed enough over time that the antibodies produced with the help of this year’s vaccine may not work for some people’s immune systems. For others, it may not recognize the virus altogether.
Despite the challenges presented by the new variant, the CDC continues to recommend flu vaccination. Officials say the vaccine still provides significant protection against other circulating influenza viruses and can reduce the severity of illness, risk of hospitalization, and death, even if it’s not fully effective against subclade K.
With the flu season expected to intensify during the holiday travel period and the later winter months, health officials are urging Texans to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
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