Influenza A subtype H3N2 major cause of current respiratory illness: ICMR

The Indian Council of Medical Research has said that the Influenza A subtype H3N2 is the major cause of current respiratory illness in the country.

“Influenza A subtype H3N2 is the major cause of current respiratory illness”, said the ICMR. It further added that the ICMR-DHR (Department of Health Research) established pan respiratory virus surveillance across 30 VRLDs (Viral research and diagnostic laboratories).

About half of all inpatients, admitted for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) as well as outpatients, being treated for influenza-like illness, were found to have influenza A H3N2, said ICMR.

“This subtype appears to cause more hospitalizations that other influenza subtypes. Of hospitalized SARI patients with influenza A H3N2, about 92 per cent presented with fever, 86 per cent with cough, 27 per cent with breathlessness, 16 per cent with wheezing. Additionally, 16 per cent had clinical signs of pneumonia and 6 per cent had seizures”, ICMR said.

The apex research body also said that

10 per cent of SARI patients who have H3N2 needed oxygen, and 7 per cent required ICU care.

Meanwhile, the recent data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) also shows that H3N2 – a sub-type of the influenza virus – has been in wide circulation for the last two-three months.

“A sudden increase in the number of patients having symptoms of cough, nausea, vomiting, sore throat fever, bodyache and diarrhoea in some cases.

While fever goes away at the end of three days, coughs can persist for three weeks,” IMA said.