NYITCOM-Arkansas Scientist: Rough Flu Season Ahead

As seen in Salon, MSN.com, 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’s 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 mutate. Rajnarayanan noted that the mutations “reshaped the areas that antibodies recognize,” making previous immunity, including immunity induced by the flu vaccine, less effective. Specifically, this mutation’s significant antigenic drift, which is when the genes of a virus change, is “a real concern.”

“Countries 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—boost stockpiles, issue robust guidance, deploy resources quickly, and reinforce surveillance,” Rajnarayanan said.