Pune News : H3N2 cases jump in Pune, 12 cases reported Â
Pune: Officials from Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Wednesday confirmed that there are a total 12 active cases of H3N2 virus in the city.
PMC health officer, Bhagwan Pawar, PMC, said that there is no need to panic as there are speculations about H3N2 patients in the city. “As of now the city has only 12 active cases in the city. PMC will release the data soon.”
Pawar further said that there is no need to panic as it is not life threatening influenza. According to civic officials, the age group of 19 to 60 years has the highest number of patients infected with the H3N2 virus, which is a subtype of influenza A virus. H3N2 is an influenza A subtype. It appears to cause more hospitalisations than other influenza subtypes, according to the civic  health officials.
Since the last few days, the city has witnessed a sudden spike in the number of patients related to fever, cough, and cold. In addition to that, IMD has predicted light rainfall for the next two to three days at isolated places. This change in climate may result in an increase in the number of caught, cold, fever patients across the city.
The Union Health Ministry is keeping a close watch on the Seasonal Influenza situation in various States/UTs through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network on a real-time basis. 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 old age persons with co-morbidities are the most vulnerable groups in the context of seasonal influenza. So far, Karnataka and Haryana have confirmed one death each from H3N2 influenza.
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 Jan to March and other in post monsoon season. The cases arising from seasonal influenza are expected to decline from March end. State surveillance officers are therefore fully geared to meet this public health challenge.
