NEW DELHI: The H3N2 virus, a more infective variant of the influenza virus, has been linked to two recorded deaths in India. According to sources, one guy passed away in Karnataka and the other in Haryana.
An 82-year-old man in Karnataka's Hassan is believed to be the first to die of H3N2 in India. As per sources, Hire Gowda was admitted to a hospital on February 24 and died on March 1. He was reportedly a diabetic and suffered from hypertension.
There have been 90 cases of this virus reported in the nation thus far, and eight H1N1 cases have also been found.
The H3N2 virus, popularly known as the "Hong Kong flu," has been responsible for the majority of the flu infections that have swept through states in the past two to three months.
Compared to other influenza strains, this virus more commonly sends patients to the hospital. Infections other than H3N2 and H1N1 have not yet been found in India.
Both have COVID-like symptoms, including fever, a cough that won't stop, chills, a sore throat, body aches, and nausea.
The virus spreads through coughing, sneezing, and close contact with an infected individual and is extremely contagious, according to specialists. Physicians have recommended COVID-like safety measures, such as consistent hand washing and mask use.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) advises drinking enough fluids, refraining from touching one's eyes or nose, covering one's mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing, and taking paracetamol for fever and body aches.
For high-risk populations like older individuals and younger children, in addition to those with compromised immune systems as a result of ongoing medical conditions, the infection may be severe.
The Indian Medical Association recently advised physicians to avoid giving patients antibiotics before determining whether the ailment is bacterial since they may become resistant to them.
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