Greece reports first death of mutated flu virus H3N2 strain this winter

A 59-year-old man was the first case dying of implications after infection from a mutated strain of influenza, Greek authorities announced on Thursday.

The man, who had also other health problems, according to the Greek Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) experts, was infected by the mutated flu virus H3N2 type. He died in the intensive care of a central Greece hospital in the city of Larissa on Thursday.

KEELPNO has confirmed in a press release a total of 31 patients infected by flu strains who were hospitalized so far across the country, including three people who have died in the past three weeks of implications after their infection from the H1N1 virus strain that prevails.

According to the Greek experts both strains are partly covered by this year's vaccine for the seasonal flu. What worries them and has put authorities on alert is the fact that several cases this year in comparison to last year concerned young people with no chronic diseases rather than the elderly and patients suffering from previous severe health problems.

Therefore, most of the cases this year concerned people who had not been vaccinated. Professor of Epidemiology Sotiris Tsiodras of KEELPNO told Greek national news agency AMNA that scientists believe that the strain has mutated to a more aggressive form this year and advised people with flu symptoms to seek medical care with no delay and stay home so that the epidemic does not spread.

More than 80 people died of implications from virus strains in 2015 and more than 100 in 2014 in Greece. Endit