Tag: h3n2

As H3N2 hits the news in India, how dangerous is it?

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The H3N2 influenza epidemic is a major concern in India, as it has the potential to cause severe illness and even death in some cases. The H3N2 strain of the influenza virus is one of the most common causes of seasonal flu worldwide, and it can lead to complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus infections.
Symptoms
The symptoms of H3N2 influenza are similar to those of other strains of the flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, and headaches. In some cases, individuals may also experience vomiting and diarrhoea. It is important to seek medical attention immediately if you or a loved one are experiencing these symptoms, especially if you are at higher risk of complications from the flu, such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and individuals with underlying health conditions.
How to beat it?
The best way to prevent the spread of H3N2 influenza is by getting vaccinated. The flu vaccine is widely available in India and is recommended for everyone, especially those who are at high risk of complications from the flu. The vaccine is safe and effective and can significantly reduce the likelihood of getting the flu or developing severe complications if you do get the flu.
In addition to getting vaccinated, there are several other steps that you can take to prevent the spread of the flu virus. These include practicing good hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently with soap and water, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, avoiding close contact with individuals who are sick, and staying home if you are feeling unwell.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with H3N2 influenza, it is important to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. This includes staying home from work or school, avoiding close contact with others, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and practicing good hygiene.
Ask your doctor
Antibiotics are not effective against the flu virus, so if you have been diagnosed with H3N2 influenza, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medications, which can help to reduce the severity and duration of the illness. It is important to take these medications as prescribed and to follow your doctor’s instructions closely.
How dangerous is it?
It is also important to note that H3N2 influenza can be particularly dangerous for certain groups of people, including the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and individuals with underlying health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. If you or a loved one are in one of these groups, it is especially important to take steps to prevent the spread of the virus and to seek medical attention immediately if you experience symptoms of the flu.
In conclusion, the H3N2 influenza epidemic is a serious concern in India, but there are steps that individuals can take to protect themselves and prevent the spread of the virus. By getting vaccinated, practicing good hygiene, and seeking medical attention if you are experiencing symptoms, you can help to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy and safe. It is important to take the flu seriously and to take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

Dr. Md Fawad Ali is a renowned and experienced Consultant Physician & Diabetologist in Hyderabad. He brings with him an experience of six years and has been associated with some of the best hospitals in Hyderabad. He worked as a senior resident at the Department of Medicine, NIMS; worked as an assistant professor at the Department of Medicine, DCMS; Chief Consultant and Director of Health Front Speciality Clinics and Day Care, Tolichowki, Hyderabad.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 23, 2023
Patna reports 1 swine flu, 2 H3N2 cases

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Patna: Patna’s health department has reported one case of swine flu and two of the H3N2 influenza, an official said on Friday.
Confirming the development, Patna civil surgeon Sharawan Kumar said of the two H3N2 cases, one is a four-year-old child from the city’s Sabzibagh locality. The second patient is a resident of Sampatchak.
Kumar said a number of cases of the two diseases have been reported since the last three days.
“We have made adequate arrangements in Patna to fight H3N2 and swine flu. Twenty beds have been reserved in Patna Medical College and Hospital and 30 at Patna AIIMS. Besides, we have also made dedicated isolation wards in Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, Sadar Hospital, Kurji Holy Family and other prominent government and private hospitals,” he said.
“We have directed government and private hospitals to conduct tests of every patient infected with cold and cough and also submit the report with the civil surgeon office.”
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 17, 2023
First H3N2 case confirmed in Madhya Pradesh, patient in home isolation

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Bhopal: The first case of H3N2 influenza is confirmed in Madhya Pradesh. According to state health department, the swab sample of a 26-year-old patient with symptoms of the infection has been sent to AIIMS Bhopal.
The patient is a resident of Bhopal and is in home isolation. Bhopal chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Prabhakar Tiwari confirmed the case as positive for H3N2.
As per the reports, the patient is now among 14 new cases of H3N2 diagnosed during the week in the country, according to the ICMR laboratory network for ILI-SARI surveillance.
Patient does not have any travel history. Currently there are no guidelines for home isolation or area wide testing for H3N2.
Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory tract infection caused by 4 distinct types of viruses- Influenza A, B, C and D belonging to the Orthomyxoviridae family. Among these types, Influenza A is the most common pathogen for humans.
Globally, influenza cases are typically seen to increase during certain months of the year. India usually witnesses two peaks of seasonal influenza one from January to March and another one in the post-monsoon season.
According to Union Health Ministry, the cases arising from seasonal influenza are expected to decline from March end. In most cases, the disease is self-limiting with symptoms of cough and cold, body ache and fever etc. and usually resolves within a week.
However, potentially high-risk groups such as infants, young children, pregnant women, elderly above the age of 65 years and people with comorbidities might experience more symptomatic illnesses, even requiring hospitalisation.

Disease transmission is mostly airborne from person to person, through large droplets generated by the act of coughing and sneezing.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 17, 2023
Doctors warn against self-medication in H3N2 flu

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Lucknow: With influenza A subtype H3N2 virus claiming two lives in India, one each in Karnataka and Haryana, doctors in Lucknow have urged people to avoid self-medication.
Sheetal Verma, senior faculty department of microbiology at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) said, “The influenza A virus sub-type H3N2 is nothing new but as people are experiencing longer spells of cough, self-medication should be strictly avoided. There is nothing to panic. This variant does not lead to a pandemic but taking precautions against it will certainly help.”
She said that it is better for people experiencing fever, cough or respiratory distress to consult a doctor instead of buying a drug over-the-counter because this flu variant is different.
According to doctors, the precautions people should take include — keeping body immunity adequate and avoiding close contact with unknown people, particularly avoiding crowded places.
Abhishek Shukla, Secretary General of the Association of International Doctors, said, “A majority of those experiencing a longer spell of cough these days have poor body immunity may be due to age (elderly) or due to some other pre-existing illness.”
P.K. Gupta, former President, IMA, Lucknow, said, “Children and elderly are the most vulnerable. They are advised to avoid cold weather conditions during the morning and late evening. This will reduce the chance of getting infected. Everyone should avoid self-medication.”
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 12, 2023
59 H3N2 influenza cases detected in Odisha

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Bhubaneswar: At least 59 H3N2 influenza cases were detected in Odisha during the last two months, said director of regional medical research centre (RMRC)-Bhubaneswar, Sanghamitra Pati here on Saturday.
A total of 225 suspected flu samples from different parts of the state were tested for H3N2 at the RMRC-Bhubaneswar during January and February 2023, of which, 59 samples were found positive for the H3N2, one influenza- and one Covid-19, she said.
However, not a single case of H1N1 flu (swine flu) was detected from the suspected sample, she said.
Pati said that concerned healthcare institutions and public health officials have been informed about the detection.
So far, over 3,000 laboratory-confirmed H3N2 influenza cases have been reported from across the country.
Notably, the Centre on Saturday wrote to all states and Union Territories directing them to be alert, take proactive steps and raise community awareness about the viral infection which has Covid-like symptoms.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 11, 2023
Influenza Scare: Doctors Say No Need To Panic, Exercise Caution

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SRINAGAR: Advising people to take extreme precautions and maintain hygiene, doctors on Friday said there is no need to panic regarding Influenza H3N2 variant virus infection in Kashmir .
They said that spread of infection can be prevented through measures such as maintaining hygiene and avoiding crowds.
Medical Superintendent, Chest Disease hospital (CD), Saleem Tak said that for the last two months cases of Influenza are being reported at CD hospital.
He said that around 50 cases of H1N1 of which H3N2 is a variant were reported in the last two months at the hospital.
Such patients have Covid-19 like symptoms but their results are being found negative Covid-19, however, they are being found positive for influenza H1N1, he said.
Patients have usually Covid-19 symptoms besides fever, mild cough and running nose and few positive patients are currently admitted at the hospital, he said.
He said that there is no need to panic but people must take precautions such as wearing masks and preventing crowding.
Officials from SKIMS said four cases of H3N2 have been reported so far at the hospital while an epidemiologist from Directorate of Health Services Kashmir said that no such case has been reported in hospitals working under DHSK.

They said that elderly people, people with comorbidities and children are more prone to flu and they must take precautions like avoid unnecessary gathering and follow proper hygiene.
Many people are taking antibiotics on their own; they said adding that it is not right to take medicine without doctor’s advice and to take antibiotics unnecessarily as medicines need to be given based on symptoms.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) recently has advised against indiscriminate use of antibiotics amid rising cases of cough, cold and nausea.
The fever will last five to seven days, it said.
The fever goes away at the end of three days but the cough can persist for up to three weeks, the IMA’s Standing Committee for Anti-Microbial Resistance said.
Viral cases have also surged due to air pollution, it said, adding that it mostly occurs in people aged below 15 and above 50 and causes upper respiratory infections along with fever.
The association also asked doctors to prescribe only symptomatic treatment and not antibiotics. (KNO)

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( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 10, 2023
H3N2 Scare: CD Hospital Data Reveals over 100 Persons Infected with Viral Infection in Nearly One-and-a-half Month

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Absolutely Nothing To Worry About, Infection Much Like Seasonal Flu: HOD CD Hospital Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah
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Srinagar, Mar 9 (GNS): As H3N2 scare continues to looms large in various parts of North India, the viral infection is being evenly witnessed in Union Territory as most cases of viral infections over a period of one-and-a-half month fall in this subtype of Influenza-A, as revealed by figures of Chest & Disease Hospital here.
As many as 47 persons out of a total of 103 samples have reverted infected by the influenza infection in nearly 50 days, reveals the data, as per GNS.
A total of 103 samples were sent for RT PCR testing by the dedicated hospital in last nearly one-and-a-half month among whom 47 samples (45%) were found to be infected from Influenza-A, 5 from Influenza-B (a total of 52 for Influenza), 19 (18%) for RSV (Respiratory Sensation Virus) and only 3 (2.9%) for COVID-19.
When contacted, leading Pulmonologist and Head of the Department Chest & Disease Hospital, Dr. Naveed Nazir told GNS that there was absolutely nothing to worry about as the most of the patients with viral infection is much like seasonal flu. But a good number of patients admitted with pneumonia had evidence of viral infection mostly influenza and RSV infections when the danger of another wave of covid was looming large.
Shah said that the symptoms of H3N2 include; fever, cough, nausea, vomiting, sore-throat, body ache and diarrhea. “These ailments gradually go with time”, he said adding though if one has undergone vaccination, he/she has not much to be concerned about it for we are used to such things given the nature of prevailing weather this time around.
Asked whether the persons with co-morbidities need to maintain any extra caution, Shah said that “We have been receiving patients, complaining of persistent cough which continues for prolonged periods extending for weeks after the symptoms of flu settle.”

Reiterating that there isn’t much to be concerned about spurt in cases of H3N2, the renowned Pulmonologist was quick to add that since schools have started the possiblility of spread of these viral infection is high. It’s better to isolate the patients with respiratory tract symptoms. (GNS)
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( With inputs from : thegnskashmir.com )

March 9, 2023
Kashmir Has 100 H3N2 Cases, Data Reveals

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SRINAGAR: As H3N2 scare continues to looms large in various parts of North India, the viral infection is being evenly witnessed in Union Territory as most cases of viral infections over a period of one-and-a-half month fall in this subtype of Influenza-A, as revealed by figures of Chest & Disease Hospital here.
As many as 47 persons out of a total of 103 samples have reverted infected by the influenza infection in nearly 50 days.
A total of 103 samples were sent for RT PCR testing by the dedicated hospital in last nearly one-and-a-half month among whom 47 samples (45%) were found to be infected from Influenza-A, 5 from Influenza-B (a total of 52 for Influenza), 19 (18%) for RSV (Respiratory Sensation Virus) and only 3 (2.9%) for COVID-19.
When contacted, leading Pulmonologist and Head of the Department Chest & Disease Hospital, Dr. Naveed Nazir told GNS that there was absolutely nothing to worry about as the most of the patients with viral infection is much like seasonal flu. But a good number of patients admitted with pneumonia had evidence of viral infection mostly influenza and RSV infections when the danger of another wave of covid was looming large.
Shah said that the symptoms of H3N2 include; fever, cough, nausea, vomiting, sore-throat, body ache and diarrhea. “These ailments gradually go with time”, he said adding though if one has undergone vaccination, he/she has not much to be concerned about it for we are used to such things given the nature of prevailing weather this time around.
Asked whether the persons with co-morbidities need to maintain any extra caution, Shah said that “We have been receiving patients, complaining of persistent cough which continues for prolonged periods extending for weeks after the symptoms of flu settle.”
Reiterating that there isn’t much to be concerned about spurt in cases of H3N2, the renowned Pulmonologist was quick to add that since schools have started the possibility of spread of this viral infection is high. It’s better to isolate the patients with respiratory tract symptoms. (GNS)

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( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 9, 2023