Overview
- Argentina’s Malbrán Institute confirmed H3N2 in a 74-year-old Spanish tourist hospitalized in Mendoza, and genomic testing is pending to determine the subclade.
- Hospital officials in Mendoza said there is no evidence of local circulation at this time and advised relying on official updates.
- Clinicians report the variant is spreading in neighboring Peru, Bolivia and Chile, and earlier this week experts cited the first three cases detected in Argentina.
- Medical societies recommend vaccinating early—ideally by March—with priority for older adults, young children, people with chronic conditions and the immunocompromised, and they advise travelers to affected countries to be immunized in advance.
- An updated vaccine tailored to the circulating strain is anticipated around February, while handwashing, ventilation, avoiding close contact and not self-medicating remain key precautions as symptoms mirror typical influenza.