He explained that this strain is not revolutionary or pandemic-causing, and was already known before the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that the virus is unstable and changes during replication, and this strain has acquired seven mutations, making it more difficult to identify, but he confirmed that previous vaccines are still effective against it.
Bregliasco pointed out that common respiratory illnesses are often misdiagnosed as influenza, explaining that the term "influenza" is usually used to describe severe colds or other viral infections.
He added that this year has seen the emergence of a new subtype of influenza worldwide, including in Europe, sometimes leading to complications and pneumonia, but he stressed that this does not represent a pandemic, but rather a distinct seasonal period with many cases.
