An elderly woman passed away due to a flu-like disease in Gujarat’s Vadodara city triggering a H3N2 scare as officials suspected that she may have died due to the dangerous variant of the seasonal influenza virus.

According to officials, the 58-year-old woman was shifted to Sir Sayajirao General (SSG) Hospital on March 11 from a private medical facility where she passed away on March 13.

Resident Medical Officer (RMO), SSG Hospital, D K Helaya shot down any preliminary assumptions that the H3N2 virus might have caused the woman’s death, saying that they’ve sent the samples for testing and the exact cause of death will be ascertained by a review committee.

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The deceased woman was a resident of Fatehgunj area in Vadodara.

Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel revealed last week that three cases of seasonal influenza subtype H3N2 have been reported in the state so far this year. Patel said that a total of 80 cases of seasonal flu were reported in Gujarat till March 10, out of which 77 are influenza of H1N1 and three of H3N2 subtypes.

However, the minister said, that no deaths due to the H3N2 variant have been reported in the state so far this year.

According to official data, India has recorded at least three deaths associated with H3N2 this season.

Fearing the outbreak of another Covid-19 like pandemic, health officials have urged people to wear masks, practice hand hygiene and get a flu shot if they haven’t already. H3N2, is a subtype of the influenza A strain, responsible for one of the three respiratory pandemics in the past century.

The flu variant’s symptoms tend to be the same as other forms of influenza, including fever or feeling feverish, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults), among others.

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The H3N2 virus is spreading rapidly across the country. Two people, including one from Haryana and another from Karnataka, died due to influenza caused by the H3N2 virus on Saturday, said Union Health Ministry.

Currently, there are around 90 cases of the H3N2 virus, also known as the Hong Kong flu, in the country. As per the reports, eight cases of the H1N1 virus have also been reported in the country.

Former AIIMS-Delhi Director Dr Randeep Guleria said the influenza cases present as fever accompanied by sore throat, cough, body aches, and runny nose. He said the rise in influenza cases is caused by the H3N2 virus and said it spreads through droplets and mutates every year around this time.

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The former AIIMS chief further stated the ways to prevent influenza.

• We can prevent ourselves from catching the virus is wearing masks in crowded places.
• We also need to wash our hands frequently and also have physical distancing.
• Besides keeping themselves hydrated, they must avoid use of cold water, ice-cream, cold drinks or oily food.
• Refrain from touching your lips and nose.

Since H3N2 influenza is highly contagious and can spread from person to person rapidly through droplets thus being airborne, here are a few things you should refrain from:

• Avoid giving a handshake.
• Don’t spit on the streets.
• Do not self-medicate.

The ICMR recently issued an advisory asking people to avoid self-medication and the use of antibiotics in this influenza outbreak. Dr Gaurav Sharma, who is a child expert in Delhi, suggests nebulization and cough syrups for children along with maintaining hygiene.

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