India has recorded its first two deaths due to the Influenza A subtype H3N2, one each from Karnataka and Haryana, the Union health ministry confirmed on Friday. Ninety cases of H3N2 have been reported so far, they said.
In Karnataka, 82-year-old Hire Gowda died due to the H3N2 virus on March 1, a state health department official said.
Gowda who suffered from diabetes and hypertension chronically was admitted to a hospital on February 24. He passed away on March 01. The sample sent to the laboratory confirmed the presence of the H3N2 virus on March 06. It was informed to the respective department immediately.
Another death due to H3N2 was reported from Haryana. A 56-year-old man was already suffering from lung cancer. He tested positive for H3N2 in January. In Haryana’s Jind district a 56-year-old man from the state, a lung cancer patient who died recently, had tested positive for the H3N2 virus in mid of January. He died on February 08 at PGIMS hospital in Rohtak.
Following the rise in cases of H3N2 being reported countrywide Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a review meeting with a core group of ministry officials and stakeholders at Nirman Bhawan on March 10.
Ministry says that a total of 3038 laboratory-confirmed cases of various subtypes of influenza including H3N2 have been reported till March 09 by the States. This includes 1245 cases in January 1307 in February and 486 cases in March (till 9th March).
NITI Aayog will hold an inter-ministerial meeting today to review the Seasonal Influenza situation in the States. It will discuss the management guidelines and protocols to manage the increasing seasonal influenza cases.