H3N2 virus: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya called a review meeting to discuss preparedness in light of the increasing number of cases...
Digital Desk: With Karnataka and Haryana each reporting one fatality from the H3N2 subtype of the influenza A virus, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya called a review meeting to discuss preparedness in light of the increasing number of cases. The Centre issued an advisory to states on Friday.
"Government of India is working with States & extending support for public health measures to address the situation," Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in a tweet.
According to data provided by the government, 3,038 cases of influenza have been reported across the country as of March 9 – 1,245 in January, 1,307 in February, and 486 in March. In 2022, there were 13,202 confirmed cases of influenza.
In Karnataka, Hire Gowda, 82, from Alur taluk in Hassan district, died on March 1. The 82-year-old, who was hypertensive and asthmatic, was brought to the hospital on February 24 after complaining of a cough and cold. His H3N2 viral infection was confirmed by lab tests on March 3, two days after his death.
In Haryana's Jind district, a 56-year-old man with lung cancer tested positive for H3N2 infection in January at PGIMS, Rohtak, and died at home on February 8.
Speaking to the media about the state's preparedness to deal with H3N2 infections, Vij said, "People should not worry. In Haryana, 10 cases of this infection have been reported so far. In Jind district, one patient passed away, but he also had lung cancer. The health department has been given instructions to discover whether he died from lung cancer or the H3N2 virus. The state's health system is strong and ready to handle any emergency."
Data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, which monitors cases of severe acute respiratory illnesses across sentinel hospitals, indicate that the H3N2 subtype of influenza has increased, accounting for 77% of all influenza cases reported in the last four weeks.
According to doctors, the most noticeable sign of influenza is a persistent cough that lasts two to four weeks.
"Cases of seasonal influenza are documented every year and the H3N2 subtype is also not new. But this year, we are seeing an increase in cases, which may be due to a number of factors, including people not wearing masks that protected them from Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses like influenza, the pandemic preventing children from building up immunity through repeated exposure, and also increased public awareness," said Dr. Pragya Yadav, senior scientist at the National Institute of Virology-Pune.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, the H3N2 subtype appears to be causing more hospitalizations than other influenza subtypes. 27% of H3N2 patients reported shortness of breath, 16% had clinical signs of pneumonia, and 6% had seizures. According to government statistics, 10% of patients required oxygen support and 7% required ICU care.
"People report fever for one or two days, body ache, and nasal discharge for a brief time, but the cough lasts for three to four weeks. This is unusual, but not uncommon," Dr Rajesh Chawla, senior specialist of respiratory medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, said of the symptoms associated with the H3N2 subtype.
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