India's First H3N2 Influenza Deaths, 1 Each In Haryana, Karnataka

Two persons have died of influenza caused by the H3N2 virus, the government said today. One person has died in Haryana and the other in Karnataka. 

An 82-year-old man in Karnataka's Hassan is believed to be the first to die of H3N2 in the country. Hire Gowda was admitted to hospital on February 24 and died on March 1, according to officials. He was reportedly a diabetic and suffered from hypertension.

The Haryana patient was a 56-year-old lung cancer patient who had tested positive for H3N2 in January. He died on Wednesday at his home in Jind, according to reports.

Around 90 cases of the H3N2 virus have been reported in the country. Eight cases of the H1N1 virus have also been detected.

The Union Health Ministry said cases are expected to decline by March-end. It also said it is tracking and keeping a close watch on infections and deaths.

Cases of flu have been rising in the country over the past few months. Most of the infections are caused by the H3N2 virus, also known as the "Hong Kong flu". This virus causes more hospitalisations than the other types of flu in the country.

"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. India every year witnesses two peaks of seasonal influenza: one from January to March and the other after the monsoon. The cases arising from seasonal influenza are expected to decline from March-end," the health ministry said.

Only H3N2 and H1N1 infections have been detected in India so far. Both have symptoms similar to Covid, which infected millions across the world and caused 6.8 million deaths. After two years of the pandemic, the rising flu cases have triggered concern among people.

The symptoms include persistent cough, fever, chills, breathlessness and wheezing. Patients have also reported nausea, sore throat, body-ache and diarrhoea. These symptoms can persist for about a week.

According to experts, the virus is highly contagious and spreads through coughing, sneezing and close contact with an infected person.

Doctors have advised Covid-like precautions, including regular washing of hands and masks. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) urges covering one's mouth and nose while sneezing and coughing, plenty of fluids, avoiding touching the eyes and the nose, and paracetamol for fever and body ache.

The infection may be severe for high-risk groups like older adults and younger children, besides people with weakened immune system because of chronic medical problems.

The Indian Medical Association recently urged doctors not to prescribe antibiotics to patients before confirming whether the infection is bacterial, as they can develop a resistance.