Influenza and h3n2 Virus: Doctors say that the influenza virus is many years old, but this time it is spreading rapidly. Symptoms persist in patients for a long time. Especially the problem of cough is not ending even for several weeks.
Image Credit source: PTI
H3N2 Virus: influenza virus Cases come every year in the country and like any common disease, its cases reduce in a few days. For the last several years, this virus has never become a cause of concern, but this time it is taking a dangerous form. of influenza H3N2 subtype Three patients have died in the country due to the virus. Symptoms of this virus are being found in the third patient coming to the hospitals. H3N2 is spreading from Delhi-NCR to South India. The government is also working on alert mode regarding this.
If you look at the history of last few years of influenza, no patient had ever died due to it. In the last several years, not so many cases of this influenza were reported in India, but this time this virus is spreading like a forest fire and infecting people. Doctors have also alerted people and advised to take special precautions for the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, the question also arises that why is the influenza virus proving so dangerous this time? To know this, we have talked to experts.
mutation in virus
Department of Internal Medicine at Paras Hospital, Gurugram Dr Rajesh Kumar It is said that this time the influenza virus has shown antigenic shift, that is, two or more of its strains have combined to form a new subtype, which is spreading very fast this time. Although most of the patients are getting only mild symptoms of this virus, but this time the symptoms have remained for a long time. Especially the problem of cough is not ending even for several weeks. Since COVID is also getting lighter for the last few months, people have reduced the use of hand hygiene and masks. Due to which the influenza virus is getting a chance to flourish. This is the reason why this virus is infecting people rapidly.
Influenza changes its form every year
Senior Physician in Delhi Dr. Ajay Kumar It is said that during 2008 swine flu was widespread. Since then, the effect of influenza was also visible, during that time there was a fear of this virus among the people, but no serious cases of it have ever come to the fore. It usually affects only those with weak immunity and the elderly. This time it is feared that there is a new mutation in H3N2 which is spreading rapidly.
no need to panic
The influenza virus has been around for many years. This virus spreads every year in the country and people get infected by it, but in most of the cases its symptoms are like flu and the patient gets cured on its own in a few days. Although this time it is not happening. Now it is seen that patients are getting symptoms for several weeks and some people are also complaining of pneumonia. Although the number of such people is less. In such a situation, there is no need to panic.
keep these things in mind
wear a mask before going out
do not come in contact with an infected person
take care of cleanliness
keep the body hydrated
avoid eating outside food
Cover face while coughing and sneezing
read this also: What will happen if COVID and H3N2 virus attack together? Know the opinion of the expert
read this also: Is the H3N2 virus spreading like Covid? Know the opinion of experts
