Maharashtra sees a spike in H3N2 virus, but no need to worry says Health Minister

As the H3N2 virus cases in Maharashtra saw a jump, health minister Tanaji Sawant on Wednesday stated that “there is no need to panic” as the virus is “not lethal and can be cured by medical therapy”. 

Sawant stated that the patients are receiving treatment and that the state has reported 352 cases of the virus.

Also, hospitals have been urged to be on guard, he continued.

There has been a rise in H3N2 cases in several states, such as Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Gujarat, and Karnataka. Karnataka and Haryana have each seen one H3N2 influenza-related death officially confirmed so far, as per the Union Health Ministry.

A Namassivayam, the education minister for Puducherry, declared earlier in the day that due to the increasing number of cases, all schools in the union territory will be shut for ten days from March 16 to March 26.

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the H3N2 variant virus was discovered in humans in 2011 and contained the M gene from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus as well as genes from avian, swine, and human viruses. 

Fever, respiratory problems, including a cough and runny nose, as well as other symptoms like body aches, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea, are among the symptoms.

According to the CDC, those with certain long-term health situations like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, weakened immune systems, neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions, children under five, adults 65 and older, and pregnant women. 

Those with certain long-term health conditions, like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease, are more likely to experience complications from the virus.

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