Genoa, Italy's first case of Australian flu: virus discovered in a young man who had just returned from a holiday

By Cristiano Antonino On Aug 28, 2022

First case of Australian flu sequenced in Italy by the San Martino Hospital Hygiene Laboratory in Genoa

Australian flu, the H3N2 virus has arrived in Italy

The H3N2 virus was found on a boy from Genoa returning from a holiday, who had arrived at the emergency room with a high fever, sore throat, an oily cough, bone pain and general malaise.

The boy’s swab, vaccinated with three doses, tested negative for Covid 19.

Admitted to hospital, he was then subjected to further investigations, including a molecular analysis to search for the main respiratory pathogens, which revealed the presence of the H3N2 strain, which is particularly widespread in other parts of the world, such as Australia and the entire southern hemisphere, where it is now winter.

The gene sequence of the Australian influenza virus was subsequently placed on the international site where all sequences identified worldwide as A/Genoa/2022 viruses are deposited

“The finding of influenza virus, albeit sporadic, in a summer period indicates the usefulness of continuous virological surveillance and the need to also consider influenza in the diagnostic pathways of acute respiratory infections, even in the era of covid 19- explains the director of Hygiene at San Martino, Giancarlo Icardi- this case should make us reflect on the importance for people at risk to get vaccinated, starting in October, against influenza with the updated vaccine that will contain the H3N2 strain antigenically similar to the virus identified in Genoa’.