01/26/26

How A Mutation Made This Year’s Flu Season So Bad

A rogue strain of flu, subclade K, has sickened more than 19 million people in the US so far this season. And the flu shot hasn’t offered that much protection. What’s going on with this superflustorm?

Joining Host Flora Lichtman with some answers is Jennifer Duchon, a pediatric infectious disease specialist.


Further Reading


Donate To Science Friday

Invest in quality science journalism by making a donation to Science Friday.

Donate

Segment Guests

Jennifer Duchon

Dr. Jennifer Duchon is a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

Segment Transcript

The transcript is being processed. It will be available 2-3 days after this story’s publication date.

Meet the Producers and Host

About Flora Lichtman

Flora Lichtman is a host of Science Friday. In a previous life, she lived on a research ship where apertivi were served on the top deck, hoisted there via pulley by the ship’s chef.

About Kathleen Davis

Kathleen Davis is a producer and fill-in host at Science Friday, which means she spends her weeks researching, writing, editing, and sometimes talking into a microphone. She’s always eager to talk about freshwater lakes and Coney Island diners.

Explore More

How To Catch The Flu (Under The Lens)

Since 1983, electron microscopist Cynthia Goldsmith has captured the beauty of deadly viruses.

Read More