Recent reports from ICMR show that cases of flu caused by the virus H3N2is spreading across the country. This viral strain causes prolonged illness and has led to more hospitalizations than flu infections caused by other type of strains. People whose immunity is weak are more likely to suffer from complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and seizures, where H3N2 can also be life-threatening in some cases. ICMR data show that in the past three months, 10% of SARI* patients hospitalized with H3N2 complications needed oxygen and 7% required ICU care.
H3N2 is a sub-type of influenza A virus, which is spread through coughing, sneezing, or talking. It can also spread when uninfected people touch an object or surface contaminated by these viruses and then touch their nose or mouth. People most at risk for H3N2 and other strains of flu are children below 5 years of age, ageing adults, pregnant women, and those with chronic conditions.
The main symptoms of flu infection are fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffed nose and headache & body aches. In H3N2 infection, the fever usually lasts for three days, but the cough can persist for 3 weeks. Dr. Ashim Ghosh, Senior Consultant, says, “It may not only protect against H3N2 but also 3 other subtypes of the flu viruses.”
