The Bolivian government confirmed the detection of two new cases of influenza A H3N2 variant K, raising the total number of identified infections to four since the national epidemiological alert was activated. The patients are two children under five years old residing in the departments of Santa Cruz and Chuquisaca, who are in stable condition and under home medical monitoring. Minister of Health and Sports, Marcela Flores, explained that this variant presents changes in three proteins that facilitate transmission between people, although she clarified that it does not have a higher fatality rate compared to common seasonal influenza. The reported clinical symptoms are similar to other flu-like conditions, but the higher contagiousness has forced authorities to intensify genomic sequencing and monitoring throughout the territory. In this scenario, Bolivia's health system remains on preventive alert since December 17 to avoid hospital saturation. The Ministry of Health urged the population to maintain biosafety measures and prioritize medical attention for at-risk groups, such as the elderly and children, while the supply of critical supplies is expedited to contain the spread of the virus year-end.
