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H3N2 virus
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H3N2 virus

infectious agent
Also known as: Hong Kong flu virus, influenza A subtype H3N2
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Quick Summary

The H3N2 virus is a subtype of influenza A, a type of RNA virus that causes acute respiratory tract infections. Influenza A viruses are classified by their surface antigens: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). H3N2 is one such subtype, known for causing seasonal flu epidemics and occasional pandemics.123

These viruses constantly evolve through a process called antigenic drift, driven by mutations in their genes. Animals like pigs and birds can act as reservoirs for different influenza strains, facilitating genetic reassortment and the creation of new H3N2 strains. The 1968 flu pandemic was caused by an H3N2 virus, which emerged from an earlier strain. While the 1968 pandemic was less deadly than the 1918 H1N1 pandemic, H3N2 viruses remain in circulation today as a cause of seasonal influenza.123

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. influenza A H1N1
  2. 1968 flu pandemic
  3. influenza

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