H3N2: About the fatal influenza virus, symptoms & precautions to prevent infection

New Delhi: The H3N2 influenza virus has claimed 2 lives in India, one in Haryana & other in Karnataka. The virus, which made a sudden appearance has gone to infect more than 90 people in the country, govt officiails informed .
Moreover, H1N1 virus has been spotted in about 8 people.

The influenza virus cases has taken a sudden jump in number of cases, after Holi festivities in the country and is creating couple of respiratory problems in infected humans.

A couple of people, having contracted the influenza virus are exhibiting symptoms of coughing, sickness & difficulty in breathing.

For quite sometime now, the cough & sporadic fever have been reported from multiple parts of the country and with this surge in influenza, the situation & load on hospitals has only been going out of hand.

What is H3N2 Influenza virus?

H3N2 virus belongs to a strain of fatal virus but this doesn’t show any epidemical behaviour, unlike the deadly H1N1 virus (swine flu).

The virus is a type of Influenza A virus which causes respiratory infection & inflammation, almost every year. First such case of influenza infection was reported in human in 1968.

The virus has about 18 subtypes of the virus, with each being categorized as H1 to H 18. It is actually a blend of 2 protein strains of the influenza A virus.

Symptoms of H3N2 VIRUS

Those afflicted with H3N2 virus will exhibit many similar symptoms including cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, body ache, fatigue & also vomiting & breathlessness.

Precautions to prevent H3N2 virus

As the H3N2 turned fatal, leading to death of 2 people in Karnataka & Haryana, high caution is advised to prevent oneself from catching infection.

TO prevent the viral infection, you can get yourself vaccinated. You must keep yourself clean & uncontaminated by washing your hands repeatedly with soap. Contact must be avoided with those having contracted the virus.
If the person is sneezing or coughing, it is advised to cover your mouth as the virus spreads in contagious & spreads with contact.

Treating cases of H3N2 virus

Though, it’s too early to speak about dedicated line of treatment, the health experts of the country are advising citizens to keep oneself hydrated. People should take medications for treating fever, cough & also headaches if any.

Once the symptoms subside, you will feel yourself greatly relieved from the virus infection. If the situation worsens despite intake of medicines, one shouldn’t hesistate to visit the doctor.