H3N2 virus: Increase precaution, no need to panic, say experts

Press Trust of India

Bengaluru: As India confirmed its first two deaths due to the H3N2 influenza virus on Friday, experts called for increased monitoring and precaution measures but also reassured that there is no need to panic yet. In Karnataka, 82-year-old Hire Gowda, a diabetic who suffered from hypertension, died due to the H3N2 seasonal influenza subtype on March 1. Another death of a 56-yearold lung cancer patient, was reported from Haryana.

From January 2 to March 5, 451 cases of the H3N2 have been reported in the country, according to the data shared by the ministry. It also said it is keeping a close watch on the situation and cases are expected to decline from month end. H3N2 is a non-human influenza virus that normally circulates in pigs and that has infected humans, according to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

The symptoms are similar to those of seasonal flu viruses and can include fever and respiratory symptoms such as cough and runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, including body ache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. As concerns mounted and some people wondered whether this could possibly turn out to be another Covid, pulmonologist Anurag Agrawal said he doesn’t expect to see a massive wave.

“Admission to hospital has not been very common and only about 5 percent cases have been reported to be hospitalised,” added Tarun Sahani, senior consultant, internal medicine, Apollo Hospitals. While there is no need to panic yet, Sahani said it is advisable to take precautions similar to those taken during Covid times. “… if most of the infected people recover albeit slow, it should be fine,” virologist Upasana Ray, alumni member of Indian National Young Academy of Science (INYAS) and member of Global Young Academy (GYA), told PTI.

 “Since there is general immunity to flu and vaccines exist, I wouldn’t expect to see a massive wave but yes, all outbreaks and deaths are of some concern,” Agrawal, the dean of the Trivedi School of Biosciences at Ashoka University, told PTI.

According to the latest data available on IDSP-IHIP (Integrated Health Information Platform), a total of 3,038 laboratory confirmed cases of various subtypes of Influenza including H3N2 have been reported till March 9 by the states. The Union Health Ministry is keeping a close watch on the seasonal influenza situation in various states/ UTs through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network on a real-time basis. Agrawal said flu surveillance is a known important part of public health.

“No fresh cases of H3N2 have been reported from Karnataka. A total of 16 cases had been reported from January to March 2023”, informed D Randeep, Commissioner of health and family welfare services, Karnataka.