H3N2 virus: Center issues advisory, NITI Aayog’s meeting with states today
H3N2 influenza infection cases are coming to the fore in the country. One patient each died in Haryana and Karnataka. So far more than three thousand patients infected with different flu including H3N2 have been found. Of these, 1,245 patients were found in January. 1,307 patients have been found in February and 486 from March 1 to 9. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has instructed the states to be vigilant and continuously monitor the increasing infection.
Today NITI Aayog will have a meeting with the health departments of the states. The Empowered Group and the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) have also convened an internal meeting today in view of the rapid rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country.
No need to panic
The ministry clarified that the state surveillance authorities are fully prepared to meet this public health challenge. No need to panic. This can be avoided by following covid vigilance rules.
More than one lakh people are vulnerable to seasonal flu
This year more than 10 lakh people have been affected by acute respiratory illness/influenza (ARI/ILI). 3,97,814 were infected in January and 4,36,523 in February and 1,33,412 in the first week of March. This year, 7041 patients had to be admitted in January, 6919 in February and 1866 till March 9. Youth, children and the elderly with co-morbidities need maximum caution.
Cases are expected to decrease by the end of March
According to the Union Health Ministry, seasonal influenza patients have been coming since December. The prevalence of H3N2 infection also appears to be increasing. The ministry hoped that by the end of March the spread of the infection could come down. The government is also going to hold an inter-ministerial meeting.
States have enough H3N2 medicine
The Union Health Ministry said on Friday that the government provides free of cost Oseltamivir, a drug recommended by the World Health Organization for H3N2. States have sufficient stock of this medicine. The ministry says, the situation of seasonal influenza is being closely monitored through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) network on a real-time basis. Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. India sees two peaks of seasonal influenza every year, one from January to March and the other after the monsoon. In such a situation, it is expected that by the end of March these cases of infection may come down.
