"Subclade K" new flu variant with more severe symptoms leading to more hospitalizations

CENTRAL VALLEY, Calif. (KFSN) -- The holidays and flu season are upon us, and medical professionals are warning people of a new version of the virus.

"Subclade K is a variant of the common flu strain that we are typically seeing this year. It's known to be a little more aggressive and a little bit more infectious, but it has the same effects and same symptoms as your regular flu strain," says Dr. Emanuele Maccalli, who is the Medical Director of inpatient Pediatrics at Kaweah Health.

Symptoms include fever, aches and muscle pains. You can also have a runny nose, cough, sore throat, and headaches.

"We have already shown an increase in hospitalizations, particularly in populations such as children under the age of five, and the elderly do seem to be hospitalized at higher rates even comp