Following heavy rainfall in Mumbai, doctors have noted a 50% increase in patients reporting symptoms of H3N2, a subtype of influenza A virus. These symptoms include high-grade fever, body aches, cold, joint pain, cough, and weakness. Particularly affected are children and senior citizens with comorbidities. Due to the cost of testing, many patients are being treated symptomatically.

In the last two weeks, there has been a significant rise in H3N2 cases in the outpatient department, according to Dr. Mihir Shah, an internal medicine consultant at Dr. LH Hiranandani Hospital in Powai. Most of these cases are managed on an outpatient basis. Patients with comorbidities, especially children and senior citizens, are more prone to the illness.

One patient, Pinal Solanky, a 28-year-old marketing executive from Malad, and her parents experienced high-grade fever, body ache, and cold. Their neighbours also displayed similar symptoms. The family was prescribed oseltamivir, an antiviral medication for influenza, without undergoing testing due to the high cost. They felt better after starting the course, though the cough persisted.

Dr. Umang Agarwal, an infectious disease expert at PD Hinduja Hospital in Mahim, shared that H3N2 cases are quite common, while H1N1 cases have not been observed. Influenza PCR tests conducted on suspected flu patients are almost always positive for H3N2. Hospitalizations occur primarily in patients with comorbidities like diabetes or hypertension.

While BMC data has shown 61 H1N1 cases in July, doctors assert that H3N2 cases are more prevalent. Due to the cost factor, many patients are not tested and receive symptomatic treatment. The state health data on influenza also indicates a predominance of H3N2 cases. In July, 111 H1N1 cases and 294 H3N2 cases were reported according to the state epidemiology cell report.

Dr. Hemalata Arora, senior consultant in Internal Medicine at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital in Vile Parle, stated they are observing 5-6 daily cases of Influenza A—H3N2.

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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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The Indian Medical Association raised a caveat on the rising cases of flu in the country on Thursday owing to the rapid weather change. The IMA has urged people to refrain from the use of antibiotics.

The IMA in their issued statement said that there is a sudden spike in cases who have symptoms of cough, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, fever, and diarrhea. The medical body also added that such cases can last for about five to seven days, however, highlighted that fever goes away in the initial stage, but cough and other symptoms can persist for up to three weeks.

The IMA also informed that a majority of such cases are H3N2 influenza virus and also added that it is commonly diagnosed with it as it is a seasonal flu during October to February season.

The virus is perceptible to people aged above 50 or below 15 and also added that in the virus people develop respiratory infections due to the virus and highlighted that air pollution is one of the leading factors for the virus to persist.

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The medical body has urged people to refrain from the use of antibiotics and suggested that patients who face such issues should deal with the symptoms with symptomatic treatment. The IMA also added that people of late have been administering doses of Azithromycin and Amoxiclav without consulting a medical professional first.

The medical body in their statement said that people who start antibiotics treatment can develop antibiotic resistance which can later lead to the person not responding to antibiotics when needed.

IMA’s statement also highlighted that antibiotics are used frivolously and noted that in over 70% of diarrhea cases, the doctor prescribes antibiotics even when it is not needed. The medical body suggested for one to not develop antibiotic resistance, one needs to first get it determined whether it is a bacterial infection or not.

The antibiotic medicines to be avoided

• Amoxiclav
• Amoxicillin
• Norfloxacin
• Ciprofloxacin
• Ofloxacin
• Levfloxacin
• Ivermectin

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