Influenza outbreak in india

• Kamala Thiagarajan • Madurai, India A “new” virus known as tomato flu reported in India is a variant of the already endemic hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), doctors have confirmed. A letter published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine on 17 August reported the emergence of the “new” virus in the Indian state of Kerala in children younger than 5. It said that as of 26 July more than 82 children aged under 5 had been reported to have the infection by local government hospitals. 1 One of the predominant symptoms of the disease is the presence of tomato-like red welts all over the body, particularly the hands, feet, and oral cavity. These are accompanied by symptoms very similar to those of covid-19, such as fever, fatigue, and body aches. The report said that tomato flu could be a variant of viral HFMD or an infection that developed in the aftermath …

Flu Cases With Covid-like Symptoms On Rise In India: All You Need To Know Influenza cases in India: The influenza surge in India appears to be more aggressive and long-lasting, doctors said, and its symptoms like cough and congestion can last up to three weeks. • • • • • Influenza (representative image) Photo: PTI Influenza cases, with symptoms reminding us of the Covid-19 outbreak, are on the rise in India. For the past two to three months, many parts of the country reported flu cases with persistent cough and even fever, raising alarm bells for another season of viral infections. Experts at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) say that the latest surge is due to Influenza A subtype H3N2, which causes more hospitalisations than other subtypes. Here’s what we know so far about recent flu cases in India: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the recent surge in flu cases is similar to the flu outbreak in the West between September and January. The influenza surge in India appears to be more aggressive and long-lasting, doctors said, and its symptoms like cough and congestion can last up to three weeks. Usually, seasonal fever and cough last about five to seven days. Symptoms Common symptoms of an infection caused by Influenza A subtype H3N2 include cough, sore throat, nausea, body ache and diarrhoea. The flu could also lead to hospitalisation, with some cases escalating to requiring ICU admission. In severe cases, reports citing doctors said, patients d...

Influenza A subtype causing cough, fever, ICMR experts say; IMA advises against indiscriminate antibiotics use A persistent cough, sometimes accompanied by fever, running through India for the past two-three months is due to Influenza A subtype H3N2, Indian Council of Medical Researc (ICMR) experts said. The H3N2 causes more hospitalisations than other subtypes, said ICMR scientists who keep a close watch on The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has noted that the particular strain causes more hospitalisations than any other flu subtype. According to the ICMR, in hospitalised patients with H3N2, 92% patients were found to have fever, 86% had cough, 27% breathlessness, 16% wheezing. Additionally, the ICMR surveillance found that 16% such patients had pneumonia and 6% had seizures. Explainer: What you need to know about H3N2 flu spike There has been an uptick in influenza-like illnesses. All of them are not the old seasonal flu or Covid-19 pandemic. The major contributory virus is influenza A H3N2 this season. About half of all inpatients admitted for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), as well as outpatients being • Regularly wash hands with water and soap • Wear face masks and avoid crowded areas • Avoid touching mouth and nose • Cover nose and mouth while coughing and sneezing • Stay hydrated and consume plenty of fluids • Take only prescribed medicines (such as paracetamol) in case of fever and body ache. Don’ts • Shake hands or use other contact-based gr...

After the outbreak of the seasonal H3N2 influenza across the country, two deaths have been reported in Karnataka and Haryana. So far, 3,038 laboratory-confirmed H3N2 influenza cases have been reported from across the country. "Young children and old persons with co-morbidities are the most vulnerable groups for seasonal influenza. So far, Karnataka and Haryana have confirmed one death each from H3N2 influenza", the health ministry said on Friday. Such cases are expected to decline from March end. State surveillance officers are fully geared to meet this public health challenge, the ministry said. A near real-time surveillance of cases of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) presenting in OPDs and IPDs of health facilities is undertaken by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). "According to the latest data available on IDSP-IHIP (Integrated Health Information Platform), a total of 3038 laboratory-confirmed cases of various subtypes of Influenza including H3N2 have been reported till 9th March 2023 by the States. This includes 1245 cases in January 1307 in February and 486 cases in March", the ministry said. Further, the IDSP-IHIP data from health facilities indicate that during the month of January 2023, a total of 397,814 cases of Acute Respiratory Illness/Influenza Like Illness (ARI/ILI) were reported from the country, which increased slightly to 436,523 during February 2023...

India has reported at least three deaths associated with H3N2 this season — a subtype of the influenza A strain responsible for one of the three respiratory pandemics in the past century. Often described as the ‘ problem child of seasonal flu ’, every time it strikes, both hospitalisations and deaths skyrocket. The H3N2 outbreak is characterised by a more severe illness lasting longer and is almost always responsible for one of the worst flu seasons. Of the last five quite severe influenza seasons, three were caused by H3N2, research has shown. In 2018, it wreaked havoc in the United States. This year, it is India’s turn. Read more: India has recorded almost 600 influenza cases, of which 451 of them have been classified as H3N2, according to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Haryana, Karnataka and Gujarat have, so far, recorded associated deaths; one in an 82-year-old who had comorbidities and a 52-year-old diagnosed with liver cancer. Details of the death recorded in Gujarat on March 14, 2023 of a 52-year-old woman are not yet available. Of the hospitalised patients, 6 per cent had clinical signs of pneumonia and 6 per cent had seizures, 7 per cent went on to develop severe disease requiring attention by Intensive Care Units while 10 per cent needed supplemental oxygen, according to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data. On March 10, the Union health ministry held a meeting to review the situation. ...