Name: Mutated flu strain could cause a more severe flu season
Uploaded: 2025-11-20T14:13:39.847Z
Duration: 2 min 34 s
Description: A mutated strain of the flu virus is surging around the world. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Jon LaPook explains what to know about symptoms and the vaccine.

A mutated strain of the flu virus is surging around the world. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Jon LaPook explains what to know about symptoms and the vaccine.

Chicago

Health experts are warning that a mutated strain of the flu virus, which has caused a severe season in countries like Japan, could lead to a more serious flu season in the United States. Although the mutated strain, particularly H3N2, is not yet widespread in the US, there are concerns about a mismatch between this year's flu vaccine and the circulating virus.

Despite the potential mismatch, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend that everyone six months and older receive the flu vaccine. Studies indicate the current vaccine still offers protection against severe outcomes, such as hospitalization, and experts emphasize the importance of vaccination as flu activity increases.

Mutated flu strain could cause a more severe flu season

All right, in this morning's Health Watch, signs that this flu season could be a nasty one. A mutated strain of the virus is surging around the world and raising alarms in the US. CBS News Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. John LaPook, joins us now. Good morning. Morning, Nate. All right, so what do people need to know about this mutated flu strain, and does it cause more severe symptoms for people that get it? Well, it's flu season, and people need to take it very seriously. Last year, there were 280 pediatric deaths, and 90% of those children who died were unvaccinated. Very serious. We're off to a start in the United States. The activity right now is low, but it's increasing. And over in Japan, it was an early, and it looks like a little bit of a harsh flu season, and there's a mutated form of the flu virus. Of course, flu virus is always mutating over there. Right now, we're not seeing this in big numbers here, but the fear is that it could also be here, and whether it causes more severe illness here is to be seen. What does that mean when it comes to this year's flu vaccine in comparison to this mutated strain, and what does that mean for protection? So there is a mismatch. What do I mean by that? Okay, we are using the same technology from the 1940s, where we identify the virus, we pick strains, three of them, in February or March, and that's because we have to grow up the virus in eggs. It takes like five or six months to make the batch, so we have to make a guess there. This year, over the summer, it mutated. It changed away, and one particular strain called H3N2, which tends to cause more severe illness, that's now a mismatch from the vaccine strain. So typically, we're ahead of it, but it seems like we're chasing it right now. Now, we're chasing it, and the question is, is there gonna be a mismatch? And right now, there's hope that with this current batch that we have, that it's still good enough, and I want people to understand that they should still get the flu vaccine. The CDC recommends that everybody six months and older, with rare exceptions, should get the flu vaccine. So get the flu vaccine that's available, and then see if there's going to be another one that matches this new strain. Well, there's not gonna be another one. There's not gonna be another one, okay, all right. Because it takes so long. It takes time, that's right. To make it, in London, in England, the study out there showed that there was still good protection against hospitalization. You may get sick, and of course, messenger RNA technology, this is the technology that gave us the COVID vaccine so quickly. That is something where if we knew it was a mismatch, say, in July, we could pivot. We could make new batch of vaccine. However, we don't have that right now, and there's cutbacks on research into that. All right, Doc, get vaccinated, right? Yeah. All right, appreciate you. Thank you.

President Trump approved a 28-point plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war, a senior White House official confirms to CBS News. Ramy Inocencio has the latest.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

Trump approved 28-point plan to end Russia-Ukraine war

There are reports that the U.S. and Russia have drafted a plan that would end the war in Ukraine, but it proposes that Kyiv give up territory and some weapons.

Kyiv

Ukraine expected to give up land, some arms under U.S. peace plan

All 267 people on board a South Korean passenger ferry that ran aground off the southwestern tip of the Korean peninsula on Wednesday (November 19) have been rescued, in an incident that revived memories of the major ferry disaster in 2014 in which 300 people died.

Mokpo-si

Ferry runs aground off South Korea, crew negligence suspected

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the bill that forces the Justice Department to release the files from its investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill was passed by the U.S. House and Senate on Tuesday.

Trump signs bill to release Epstein files

U.S. officials are now in Kyiv for the Trump administration's renewed push to end the Russia-Ukraine war. CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent and "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan has the details.

U.S. officials in Ukraine to push for renewed peace talks

Harvard University is opening a new inquiry into faculty connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Cam Srivastava, college administration reporter for The Harvard Crimson, joins CBS News with more.

Cambridge

Harvard announces new probe into faculty ties to Jeffrey Epstein

U.S. President Donald Trump has authorized a plan for the CIA in Venezuela, according to a New York Times report. CBS News' Charlie D'Agata has more details.

Trump authorizes plans for CIA covert operation in Venezuela: report

An Israeli strike on the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon killed 13 people and wounded several others, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Wednesday. The Israeli military said it struck Hamas militants who it said were operating in a training compound there.

Beirut

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strike on Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon kills 13

The Epstein files bill is expected to reach President Donald Trump's desk for his signature on Wednesday (November 19). CBS News' Taurean Small reports.

Trump set to sign bill to release Epstein files

Microsoft and Nvidia plan to invest a combined $15 billion into Anthropic. Bloomberg Intelligence's Mandeep Singh discusses why two of the biggest backers of OpenAI are putting money into its rival.

San Francisco

Microsoft, Nvidia to invest up to $15 billion in Anthropic

Hamas rejects the US-drafted UN resolution for a Gaza ceasefire and international stabilisation force.

New York

UN Security Council vote: Hamas rejects Gaza 'peace resolution'

President Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to the White House on Tuesday. The two leaders announced a boost in Saudi Arabia's planned investment in the U.S., from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion.

Trump, MBS announce boost in Saudi investment to U.S.

President Donald Trump hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday, with the Saudi de facto ruler seeking to further rehabilitate his global image after the 2018 killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi and deepen ties with Washington.

Trump hosts Saudi crown prince for pomp-filled, deal-making visit

The Senate, through the process of unanimous consent, agreed to send the bill to President Trump's desk for his signature without any amendments once it's received from the House.

Senate to send Epstein files bill to Trump's desk for signature

The House has approved a bill that would require the Justice Department to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill, which received bipartisan support, now awaits consideration in the Senate.

House passes bill that would force release of Jeffrey Epstein files

Hopes for a strong G20 declaration on climate and debt relief are slim as South Africa readies to host the summit from Saturday (November 22). Global tensions and a boycott by the United States threaten to overshadow the gathering.

Johannesburg

South Africa readies for G20 despite U.S. boycott

At least one person is dead and three others were injured after an attack in the West Bank, Israeli forces said. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council backed the U.S. plan for Gaza. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio has the latest.

Jerusalem

Tensions escalate as U.N. Security Council backs Trump's plan for Gaza

U.S. President Donald Trump will host Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, his first visit since Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in 2018. The crown prince has denied any involvement.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visiting White House

The sale of the fighter jets is one of several major deals between the two countries expected to be announced during the visit.

Trump says he will sell F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia

The U.K. government has proposed a major overhaul of its asylum rules, making it easier to deport people and quadruple the amount of time it takes to become a permanent resident.

London

U.K. introduces tougher laws for asylum seekers

In a blistering opinion, a federal judge in Virginia accused Justice Department prosecutor Lindsay Halligan of misconduct, saying there was a "disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps."

Virginia

DOJ accused of 'profound investigative missteps' in Comey case

The United Nations Security Council has voted to adopt a U.S. resolution outlining President Trump's peace plan for post-war Gaza. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams has the details.

U.N. Security Council adopts U.S. resolution on Gaza plan

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford has arrived in the Caribbean, giving the United States the ability to strike inside Venezuela if President Trump gives the order. The U.S. has also sent thousands of troops to the region.

Trump 'won't rule out' sending troops to Venezuela amid rising tensions

President Trump now says Republicans should vote to release all of the files related to the federal investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi and Nikole Killion have the latest on what could happen next.

Trump's Epstein files reversal comes amid pressure from allies

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called an explosion on a railway line “an unprecedented act of sabotage.” Donald Tusk did not say who he believed had carried out the attack, but a government minister said "foreign intelligence agencies" were responsible.

Warsaw

Railway line blast in Poland ‘unprecedented act of sabotage’

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy signed a landmark deal in Paris on Monday to buy 100 Rafale jets, drones, and air defense systems from France.

Paris

Ukraine signs deal with France for jets, air defense systems

The Federal Aviation Administration ended mandated cuts in domestic flights at 40 major U.S. airports, easing restrictions that had been imposed over air traffic control concerns during the federal shutdown.

FAA ends mandated cuts in domestic U.S. flights

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to oppose any attempt to establish a Palestinian state, a day before the UN Security Council will vote on a U.S.-drafted resolution on Gaza that leaves the door open to Palestinian independence.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Netanyahu insists there can be no Palestinian state ahead of UN vote

A Bangladesh court sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity on Monday (November 17), concluding a months-long trial that found her guilty of ordering a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising last year.

Dhaka

Bangladesh's ousted PM sentenced to death for protest crackdown

President Donald Trump now appears to support the release of all Jeffrey Epstein files as the House of Representatives readies for a vote on the matter. CBS News' Natalie Brand reports.

Breakdown