Two H3N2 deaths reported so far, cases likely to decline by March-end: Govt

NITI Aayog to hold an inter-ministerial meeting to review the situation on Saturday

India has reported two deaths due to H3N2 influenza so far, one each from Karnataka and Haryana, the health ministry confirmed on Friday.

While the government is expecting the influenza cases to decline by the end of March, NITI Aayog will hold an inter-ministerial meeting on Saturday to take stock of the situation in states.

The government think-tank is expected to come up with ways to support the states in terms of public health measures, management guidelines, and protocols to manage the increasing seasonal influenza cases. 

The health ministry has issued an advisory to the states to be on the alert and closely monitor the situation. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also held a meeting to review rising cases of #H3N2 Influenza virus in the country.  He said in a tweet, “Government of India is working with States & extending support for public health measures to address the situation.”

In Karnataka’s Hasan, an 82-year old man, who was a diabetic and suffered from hypertension as well, died due to the H3N2 virus on March 1, a state health department official told news agency PTI.

In Haryana, a 56-year-old lung cancer patient who died recently had tested positive for the virus on January 17, a state health department official told PTI.

According to the latest data available on the Integrated Health Information Platform, 3,038 laboratory confirmed cases of various subtypes of influenza, including H3N2, have been reported till March 9 by the states.

Health ministry numbers show influenza H3N2 has been the predominant subtype among the samples testing positive for influenza, since the beginning of this year.

Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses which circulate in all parts of the world, and the cases are seen to increase during certain months globally. Health ministry 

said India witnesses two peaks of seasonal influenza every year — one from January to March, and another in the post-monsoon season.

Government data also shows that in January, 397,814 cases of acute respiratory illness or influenza-like illness were reported from the country. 

This increased to 436,523 in February.

The health ministry said in a statement that state surveillance officers were fully geared to meet this public health challenge. “The ministry is also tracking and keeping a close watch on morbidity and mortality due to the H3N2 subtype of the seasonal influenza. Young children and older people with comorbidities are the most vulnerable groups in the context of seasonal influenza,” the health ministry said.

The ministry has also made Oseltamivir, the drug recommended by the World Health Organization, available through the public health system free of cost and allowed its sale or wider accessibility and availability.

Cases so far 

Cases of influenza-like illness reported in February, up from 397,814 in January - 436,523

Laboratory confirmed cases of various subtypes of influenza reported till March 9 - 3,038

H3N2 predominant subtype among the samples testing positive 

Oseltamivir prescribed by WHO available through public health system free of cost