A 25-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to the hospital about a week ago has been diagnosed with the H3N2 influenza variant, according to the SSG hospital in Vadodara.
When she tested positive for H3N2 influenza, the woman had reported flu symptoms at a private clinic where she was receiving care for her 22-week pregnancy, according to Dr. Osman Belim, Senior Medical Officer, SSG.
Dr Belim said, “The woman had shown symptoms of influenza and so when she tested negative for Covid-19, they conducted the Swine Flu test. She came back as positive for H3N2, which is also a strain that has been sporadically seen in India… We have seen a confirmed case of this strain after many years now.”
Dr Belim added that the woman was referred to SSG after testing positive as the hospital has ready isolation wards.
“We could have kept her at home under quarantine as per protocol, but she is a high risk patient with a 22-week pregnancy. After she has spent seven days in isolation, which should be in a day or two, we will release her.