Influenza A subvirus H3N2, the dominant strain of the season, accounted for more than 70% of all acute respiratory infections tested for the virus type between January and March in Puducherry.
According to the public data of the Department of Health, 79 cases of H3N2 have been reported since January, of which 109 cases have been tested for influenza type. During the January-March period, there were only 19 confirmed cases of influenza B, while the H1N1 subtype (three cases) appeared to be on the decline.
No deaths from H3N2 have been reported in Puducherry. Currently only two H3N2 cases have been reported.
The H3N2 strain mostly affected the 16-49 age group, data show, accounting for 50% of all patients in that demographic segment.
“The spread of the virus may already be on a downward trend,” said health director G Sriramulu. “In fact, the Indian Council for Medical Research had estimated that the growth of the virus was expected to subside by the end of March,” he pointed out.
“The mandate for the medical fraternity is to test for the influenza variant among patients reporting fever in combination with other associated symptoms such as sore throat and cough,” said Dr Sriramulu.
Besides taking steps to detect the virus infection at an early stage, the health department has made treatment facilities available in all hospitals and primary health centers in Puducherry.
The department said that all hospitals are running dedicated outpatient units for assessment of fever. Any person who comes to the hospital with symptoms like fever, cold, cough, sneezing etc. is also being tested for H3N2 virus.
Preventive Measures
The department has appealed to the public to follow the precautionary measures which include washing hands with soap, wearing face shield for those showing symptoms of infection, avoiding going to crowded places, covering mouth and nose while sneezing and coughing Is.