Why is Antigenic Drift Significant in Epidemiology?
Antigenic drift plays a crucial role in the epidemiology of [influenza](#) and other RNA viruses. These minor genetic changes can lead to the emergence of new viral strains that are sufficiently different from previous strains. Consequently, the host's immune system may not recognize these new strains, potentially leading to reduced [vaccine effectiveness](#) and increased susceptibility to infection. This necessitates the frequent update of [influenza vaccines](#) to match the circulating strains.
