Statements by journalists and some epidemiologists calling the outbreak of the H3N2 virus observed in Russia “Hong Kong flu” are erroneous. Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Onishchenko stated this in an interview with .
“The term 'Hong Kong flu' does not exist. There is H3N2 flu, which has another name. It was first recorded in 1973, then it was actually called Hong Kong. However, the virus has changed and now it is no longer “Hong Kong flu”, the academic said.
According to Onishchenko, media reports about the “Hong Kong flu” wave are “fabricated journalism” and “ignorant statements.” He also emphasized that the vaccine used to vaccinate 80 million Russians is effective against the H3N2 strain.
On December 25, Onishchenko said the main increase in the incidence of influenza and ARVI in Russia is still ahead. He predicted that the number of infections will increase sharply after January 20. According to this scholar, this is due to students returning to study after winter break.
