Tag: Influenza

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
‘Persistent cough, fever’: Influenza A on rise in India

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New Delhi: A persistent cough, sometimes accompanied by fever, running through India for the past two-three months is due to Influenza A subtype H3N2, ICMR experts said.
The H3N2, which has been in wide circulation for the past two-three months, causes more hospitalisations than other subtypes, said Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) scientists who keep a close watch on ailments caused by respiratory viruses through the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories network.
They have also suggested a list of Dos and Don’ts for people to follow to protect themselves from contracting the virus.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), on the other hand, has advised against indiscriminate use of antibiotics amid rising cases of cough, cold and nausea across the country.
Seasonal 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.

“Right now, people start taking antibiotics like Azithromycin and Amoxiclav etc, that too without caring for done and frequency and stop it once start feeling better. This needs to be stopped as it leads to antibiotic resistance. Whenever there will be a real use of antibiotics, they will not work due to the resistance,” the IMA said in a statement.
The most misused antibiotics are Amoxicillin, Norfloxacin, Oprofloxacin, Ofloxacin and Levofloxacin. These are being used for the treatment of diarrhoea and UTI, it said.
“We have already seen widespread use of Azithromycin and Ivermectin during Covid and this too has led to resistance. It is necessary to diagnose whether the infection is bacterial or not before prescribing antibiotics,” it said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 4, 2023