Influenza Virus Spread like Covid, Says Ex-Director of AIIMS

New Delhi: Former AIIMS-Delhi Director Dr Randeep Guleria has informed that the influenza virus spreads just like covid. While speaking on the rise of the virus, Dr Guleria said, influenza cases are caused by the H3N2 virus and it spreads through droplets and mutates every year around this time.

As the festive season is around the corner, the Chairman of the Institute of Internal Medicine and Respiratory and Sleep Medicine and the Director of Medical Education have asked people to be careful, especially the elderly and those who have underlying comorbid conditions.

“We had a pandemic many years ago because of H1N1. The circulating strain of that virus is now H3N2 and, therefore, it is a normal influenza strain. But we are seeing more cases because as the virus mutates a little bit, the immunity that we had against the virus becomes a little less and therefore people who are susceptible tend to get infection more easily,” Dr Guleria said.

In order to prevent the disease, Dr Guleria suggested wearing masks in crowded places.  “We also need to wash our hands frequently and also have physical distancing,” he added.