H3N2 Virus Alert: First case of H3N2 virus reported in Assam; Alert raised by Assam’s Health Dept

Digital Desk: Assam confirmed its first incidence of the H3N2 virus on Wednesday, as scientists and physicians urged residents to wear masks.

Assam's health department said it is keeping a "close watch on the evolving influenza scenario in the state through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network on a real-time basis". 

"District surveillance officers under the IDSP network are fully prepared to meet this public health challenge in every district of Assam following the guidelines formulated by the national government and ICMR," the state health department stated.

"We have only one instance of H3N2 infection throughout the government hospitals in the state," Dr Manoj Kumar Choudhury, Director of the National Health Mission in Assam, told IANS. As a result, we are not concerned about this sickness at the moment."

When asked about the precautions the state health agency has been taking to control the spread of H3N2, he answered, "Since illnesses are exceedingly low, why should we unnecessarily cause panic? We've been keeping an eye on everything." 

Meanwhile, Dr. Rachna Dass Hazarika, a paediatrician in a Guwahati-based super-speciality hospital, said, "The Influenza A (H3N2) is not raising a concern here as the number of cases diagnosed is quite tiny.

I only had two infants with H3N2 who healed nicely and did not require hospitalisation."

Nonetheless, Adenovirus infection has become a major worry in Assam. "I have treated not less than 20 youngsters with this infection, and the majority of them required hospitalisation," she stated. Several even required high-flow oxygen therapy due to breathing problems."

"Furthermore, one child was quite unwell, and we had to place him on ventilator support," Dr. Hazarika stated. The infant was released from the hospital today after 25 days of treatment." Children were administered the influenza vaccine once they reached the age of six months, according to state healthcare specialists. This also provides immunity against H3N2 illness. This is most likely why the transmission of Influenza A is lower in Assam.