States issue alerts as H3N2 cases increase in India; Delhi, Maharashtra, and Karnataka issue advisories

According to statistics released by the health ministry, the number of H3N2 influenza virus cases in India increased to 451 cases as of March 5. India’s death toll due to the H3N2 virus rose to nine on Friday after a 73-year-old man died in Pune’s Pimpri-Chinchwad after contracting the H3N2 influenza virus. Six states across the nation have received a Covid warning from the government. Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat are among these regions. Despite not being on the list, Delhi issued a warning on Friday urging people with disabilities and the elderly to take extra measures. The state warnings are listed below:

Delhi
Saurabh Bhardwaj, the health minister for Delhi, issued a warning on Friday urging parents to take extra care with young children and the aged. Additionally, the District Surveillance Units, medical facilities, and government hospitals have been given stringent monitoring instructions in order to stop the spread of this seasonal influenza.

While the danger of the H3N2 influenza virus is rising in many states across the nation, Delhi government hospitals have not seen a lot of cases of this virus.

UTTAR PRADESH
In response to an increase in H3N2 cases, the government of Uttar Pradesh has released an advisory and requested that young children and the elderly take precautions. The advisory also covers the topic of H3N2 patient oxygen level tracking.

According to the warning, hospitals have been told to admit H3N2 patients if their oxygen level drops to 90. Patients with H3N2 should receive oseltamivir. A list of helpline numbers has also been made public by the administration.
Director of Health Department Dr Avinash Singh told that children aged 8 years or younger and people above 65 years of age have been asked to stay vigilant. As cases are on the rise, advice has been provided to vaccinate those in the high risk group.

KARNATAKA
There is no need to panic about the influenza A H3N2 variant virus infection in the state, according to Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar, but people should take measures.

Following a meeting with the technical advisory committee (consisting of experts and senior officials), Sudhakar stated that the central government’s guidelines set a goal of 25 tests per week. “We are screening 25 cases of SARI (severe acute respiratory infections) and ILI (influenza-like illness) in Victoria and Vani Vilasa Hospitals to keep track of the variants,” Sudhakar said.

The minister added that pregnant women are also more likely to contract the illness than are children under the age of 15 and seniors over the age of 65. Its growth can be stopped by taking steps like maintaining cleanliness, avoiding crowded areas, and practicing good hand hygiene.

MAHARASHTRA
Following the spike in H3N2 cases in Maharashtra, all states have been urged to maintain vigilance.
The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister assessed the situation and instructed all hospitals to be on watch, according to state health minister Tanaji Sawant.
Although the H3N2 virus is expanding throughout the state, nobody should be concerned. People must avoid crowded places, refrain from wearing masks, and keep their social distance. Cases of H3N2 and Covid are once more increasing in the state, according to Sawant.

H3N2: WHAT IS IT?
According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, H3N2 is a non-human influenza virus that typically affects pigs but has also infected people. (CDC).
Similar to seasonal flu viruses, the symptoms can include fever, respiratory symptoms like cough and runny nose, and potentially other symptoms like body aches, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.