Amid the confirmation of death of two patients due to H3N2 subtype of seasonal influenza in India, experts have said that there is a need to increase vigilance and take precautionary measures to prevent this virus. Two people have been confirmed dead due to this virus in India, one of them was from Karnataka and the other from Haryana. In Karnataka, Heere Gowda (82) died of H3N2 virus on March 1. He was suffering from diabetes and also had a problem of high blood pressure. Apart from this, the death of a 56-year-old cancer patient from H3N2 virus has been confirmed in Haryana.
According to the data shared by the Union Health Ministry on Friday, 451 cases of H3N2 have been reported in the country from January 2 to March 5. The ministry said it is closely monitoring the situation and expects a decline in cases from the end of the month. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), H3N2 is an influenza virus that usually spreads from pigs to humans. Its symptoms are similar to those of the seasonal flu virus. It shows symptoms of fever and respiratory problems including cough and sputum. Apart from this, some patients also have other problems including body pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Some fear it could be another Covid-like infection, but pulmonologist Anurag Agarwal said he doesn’t think there will be a big wave. “Hospitalization is not very common and only five per cent of patients have been reported to be admitted to the hospital,” said Tarun Sahni, senior consultant in the department of internal medicine at Apollo Hospitals. There is no need to take precautions like in the time of Kovid. Upasana Ray, an alumnus of the ‘Indian National Young Academy of Science’ (INYAS) and a member of the ‘Global Young Academy’ (GYA), said that the lockdown and the widespread use of masks for a long period have controlled the infection of more dangerous subtypes of the virus. but it also provided protection against regular seasonal respiratory viral infections, while these infections help to increase immunity.
Virologist Ray said widespread use of masks for at least two years had resulted in people becoming immune to other forms of the virus associated with respiratory problems. Anurag Agarwal, dean of the Triveni School of Biosciences at Ashoka University, said, “People have generally immunity against flu and there are vaccines available, so I don’t anticipate a big wave, but yes, all Infections and deaths due to them are a cause for some concern.” According to the latest data available on IDSP-IHIP (Integrated Health Information Platform), 3,038 cases of different forms of influenza, including H3N2, have been reported till March 9. Are included. These figures include 1,245 cases in January, 1,307 in February and 486 reported till March 9.
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