Centre Alerts States & UTs on Rising H3N2 Influenza Virus in India

New Delhi: The Centre has written a letter to all States and Union Territories over the rising trend in other Influenza-like illnesses and Severe Acute Respiratory illnesses being witnessed in some States and UTs across the country.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has asked them to follow operational guidelines for integrated surveillance of respiratory pathogens presenting as cases of influenza-like illness or severe acute respiratory infection.

He also asked them to raise community awareness regarding adherence to respiratory and hand hygiene, promoting early reporting of symptoms to limit transmission of these diseases. The states were also requested to take a stock of hospital preparedness including the availability of drugs and medical oxygen, and vaccination coverage against COVID-19 and influenza.

The Health Secretary has asked state and District Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme units to closely follow the trends of influenza-like illness cases and refer sufficient numbers of samples for testing for Influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and Adenovirus.

A total of 59 H3N2 influenza cases were found in Odisha, informed the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) in Bhubaneswar. Out of the 225 samples collected in the month of January and February, a total of 59 H3N2 influenza cases were found in Odisha, she said.