In the midst of a spike in seasonal influenza cases across the country, Gujarat health minister Rushikesh Patel said on Saturday that the state has three H3N2 cases and 77 H1N1 cases as of March 10. According to sources, there has been one death in Gujarat as a result of H1N1.
Meanwhile, in a letter to the states and union territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan expressed his concern about the rise in Influenza-like illnesses and Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses (ILIs/SARIs).
In the letter, he wrote that it is important to raise community awareness regarding adherence to respiratory and hand hygiene, promoting early reporting of symptoms, and limiting contact of those people who are suffering from respiratory illness.
“In the present season, a variety of weather conditions and behavioural reasons (like less than adequate attention to personal hygiene, sneezing and coughing without proper protection in close proximity of other people, closed indoor gatherings of people, etc.) make the environment conducive to the circulation of a number of viral respiratory pathogens like Influenza A (H1N1, H3N2 etc.), Adenoviruses, etc,” Bhushan wrote.
Bhushan added that special care should be taken in the case of children, elderly people and people suffering from comorbidities, who are particularly vulnerable to H1N1, H3N2 and Adenoviruses.
Earlier on Friday, the Union government held a review meeting, during which it stated that the government is closely monitoring the influenza situation in the country and the H3N2 subtypes. The seasonal influenza cases are also expected to decline by the end of March, according to the report.
Held a meeting to review rising cases of #H3N2 Influenza virus in the country. Advisory issued to States to be on the alert and closely monitor the situation. Government of India is working with States & extending support for public health measures to address the situation,” Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, said in a tweet.
According to the latest data available on IDSP-IHIP (integrated health Information Platform), a total of 3,038 laboratory confirmed cases of various subtypes of influenza, including H3N2 have been reported till March 9 by the states. This includes 1,245 cases in January, 1,307 in February and 486 cases in March so far.
The IDSP-IHIP data from health facilities show that during the month of January this year, a total of 3,97,814 cases of Acute Respiratory Illness/Influenza Like Illness (ARI/ILI) were reported from the country that increased slightly to 4,36,523 during February. In the first nine days of March, this number stands at 1,33,412.
The corresponding data for admitted cases of severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) is 7,041 in January, 6,919 in February and 1,866 in the first nine days of March.
According to government data, a total of 955 H1N1 cases have been reported till February end this year. Majority of the H1N1 cases are reported from Tamil Nadu (545), followed by Maharashtra (170), Gujarat (74), Kerala (42) and Punjab (28).