Dr Yong. Picture courtesy of PPTVHD36

A rapidly spreading mutated strain of influenza, A H3N2, is raising alarms as it diminishes vaccine effectiveness. This strain has undergone significant genetic changes, but it is less severe and responds to antiviral treatments. Channel 7 TV highlighted concerns today, emphasising the importance of adapting public health strategies.

Dr Yong said that Thailand's Public Health Ministry recorded the highest number of flu cases last year, with the A H1N1 2009 strain initially leading the charge. However, the A H3N2 strain took precedence by the year's end. While Influenza B remains less common, experts agree a three-strain vaccine suffices since the Yamagata strain hasn't appeared in five years.

The A H3N2 strain, circulating in the Northern Hemisphere, has mutated at several points, allowing it to dodge current vaccines. This K-type mutation is increasing transmission rates, resulting in a higher infection count. Despite the rise in cases, the severity remains unchanged, and antivirals are still effective.

Health authorities urge continued vaccination despite lowered efficacy, noting current vaccines are safe, with minimal side effects, and cost-effective. For Thailand, a new vaccine will be introduced in March, targeting the Southern Hemisphere to preempt potential outbreaks during the rainy season, reported Thai Newsroom.

Key Takeaways

• The A H3N2 strain's mutation reduces vaccine potency but maintains disease severity and antiviral effectiveness.

• Continued vaccination is advised due to safety and affordability.

• Thailand plans to roll out a new vaccine in March for its rainy season.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Newsroom 2026-01-08

 

 

Symptoms?

Viruses are constantly mutating so this is no surprise, there are different strains of the flu every year, so I'm not sure why this is considered to be any form of breaking news.

It's of interest to me because I've been coughing my lungs up for several days.

16 hours ago, webfact said:

A rapidly spreading mutated strain of influenza, A H3N2, is raising alarms as it diminishes vaccine effectiveness

So why is Dr Yong not wearing a mask like everyone else pictured?

1 hour ago, Old Croc said:

It's of interest to me because I've been coughing my lungs up for several days.

I had it for about 4 weeks in Dec/early Jan on return from BKK - fairly mild in my case (just a hacking cough several times a day). My b/f still has it some 5 weeks later & much worse - non-stop coughing. Improves a little for a day or 2 then back again. Some pills from the village witchdoctor in Phanom Dong Rak greatly improved my condition and eating plenty of garlic & ginger with high-quality meals also seemed to help.

Aussie friends who stayed with us in BKK for a couple of days in Dec on their way back to Oz from Germany said their dose once returned to Melbourne was the worst they've ever had & similarly lasted several weeks.

Oh....my....God... we're all gonna DIE! 😁

26 minutes ago, nglodnig said:

Oh....my....God... we're all gonna DIE! 😁

That does seem inevitable, yes.

2 hours ago, Homburg said:

So why is Dr Yong not wearing a mask like everyone else pictured?

He's "Special." The rest are average nobodies and average nobodies must wear The Mask of Compliance.

30 minutes ago, nglodnig said:

Oh....my....God... we're all gonna DIE! 😁

"Whoopee! we're all gonna die." - Country Joe and the Fish

3 hours ago, Old Croc said:

It's of interest to me because I've been coughing my lungs up for several days.

Me too! And a couple of my mates!

1 hour ago, nglodnig said:

Oh....my....God... we're all gonna DIE! 😁

Thats for sure but we just don't know when.

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Viruses are constantly mutating so this is no surprise, there are different strains of the flu every year, so I'm not sure why this is considered to be any form of breaking news.

it's called fear mongering "control"

4 hours ago, Andyfez said:

Symptoms?

Probably the same as air pollution, coughs, sneezing, sore throat, congested lungs, tight breathing.

Glad to know that Dr Yong is on the case and in the news again. I was afraid he was getting bored or feeling irrelevant since the Covid pandemic ended.

5 hours ago, Homburg said:

So why is Dr Yong not wearing a mask like everyone else pictured?

Because he is being interviewed, no one is sat next to him on either side and after talking he will probably put his mask back on after the interview is over.

If you remember, the mask is there to protect others not the wearer as it stops aerosol particles from being created.

...Sales Down...(?)

...No Strains Have Ever Been Isolated According To Experts...(?)

...Yet Now They Are Mutating...(?)

...Reminds Me Of The Bogey Man...(?)

6 hours ago, Old Croc said:

It's of interest to me because I've been coughing my lungs up for several days.

Sorry to read that. I had the respiratory infection and it stayed in my lungs for 2 weeks, so I know how bad it can be.

2 hours ago, Caldera said:

Glad to know that Dr Yong is on the case and in the news again. I was afraid he was getting bored or feeling irrelevant since the Covid pandemic ended.

I feel 100% safer already.

On 1/8/2026 at 3:38 PM, webfact said:

Thailand's Public Health Ministry recorded the highest number of flu cases last year, with the A H1N1 2009 strain initially leading the charge.

My wife and I both had it (H1N1) last year in BKK. The vaccines didn't prevent it (for us). According to research done at a US University Med School (Utah I think). Their research found the vaccine was ineffective at preventing H1N1 that year for older adults.

Pattaya braces for news of an inundation of newly sick buffalos

8 hours ago, Old Croc said:

It's of interest to me because I've been coughing my lungs up for several days.

How do you know you had H3N2.. or something else or just the air pollution from this time of year burning ?

2 hours ago, SOTIRIOS said:

...Sales Down...(?)

...No Strains Have Ever Been Isolated According To Experts...(?)

...Yet Now They Are Mutating...(?)

...Reminds Me Of The Bogey Man...(?)

Bang on the money there Sir.

A virus - any virus - has never been found; let alone isolated.

And you are right. How can something that don't exist mutate? And if they don't exist; they can't cause disease.

Fear-mongering nonsense.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1380767-why-virology-is-junk-science/

Ah, seems like we haven't heard from the good doctor since his valuable pandemic instructions.

I believe H3N2 evolved from bird flu into human hosts.

This is not fear-monger nonsense. Take reasonable precautions or get sick. Your choice.

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Ah, seems like we haven't heard from the good doctor since his valuable pandemic instructions.

I believe H3N2 evolved from bird flu into human hosts.

This is not fear-monger nonsense. Take reasonable precautions or get sick. Your choice.

There is absolutely no evidence to back up what you believe Sir.

Pandemic instructions??? It's all nonsense. There never was a pandemic; and there isn't one now.

People who have flu-like symptoms do not pass them on to others. The symptoms are the body getting itself back into good health.

12 hours ago, Andyfez said:

Symptoms?

reading Thi newspapers !

21 hours ago, Andyfez said:

Symptoms?

Flu like symptoms .

It is so refreshing that the skeptics are alive and well, and that the hoax propagating global medical researchers and health care professionals are propagating misinformation. Right?

For about 6 months, medical newsletters and sites have been warning about some virulent mutations of H2N2. Record high flu cases and hospital admissions for this strain in England and Japan are of course fake news, as well as the reported substantially higher hospital admissions reported in some European countries are also fake news.

It is amazing, is it not, that global health care professionals are so well coordinated in spreading this hoax and misinformation! (Maybe something that Trump and the MAGA vanguard should tap into.)

The information that some of the vaccines are not responsive to some strains of H3N2 is of course fake.

And the observation over recent months that an increasing number of Thais in public, Thais working in shopping malls, and staff working in Thai health care facilities have started wearing face masks again is all an illusions, or an example of Thai gullibility.

The only source of truth is of course Donald Trump and his MAGA apostles, and the unbiased reliable algorithms used by the IT giants who support Trump. And of course, the Earth is flat in 3 dimensional space, or is it 11 dimensional space, I forget.

Will these people never give up? Say Fear is a Man's Best Friend (John Cale 1970s)

On 1/9/2026 at 8:16 AM, spidermike007 said:

Viruses are constantly mutating so this is no surprise, there are different strains of the flu every year, so I'm not sure why this is considered to be any form of breaking news.

There's a lot of highly qualified Dr's out there saying beware of another mrna vaccine push, you will have to search for yourself but there is plenty out there.