ICMR has recommended people wash their hands frequently and avoid shaking hands and spitting in public places.
Information:
The surveillance data collected from December 15 to date indicates the increase in the number of cases of influenza A H3N2. Around 50% of inpatients are suffering from severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and outpatient influenza-like symptoms were found to have influenced A H3N2.
Statement:
“The Do's include washing hands with soap and water. If symptomatic, wear masks and avoid crowded places, cover mouth and nose while sneezing and coughing, take plenty of fluids, avoid touching eyes and nose, and take paracetamol for fever and body ache,” ICMR stated.
It further added, “The Don’ts include shaking hands or using other contact greetings, spitting in public, taking antibiotics or other medicines without consulting a doctor, eating together sitting close to others.”
“The results are interpreted on the basis of specific fluroscent dye for each Infuenza viruses like H1N1, H3N2, H5N1 and H7N9. Generally, when H3N2 dominates the flu cases, the cases are severe for people in At-Risk Groups like older adults & younger children while people with chronic medical issues have more chances of experiencing flu complications due to weak immune systems and may also require hospitalisation,” he further said.