H3N2 Virus: 73-Year-Old Passes Away In Pimpri Chinchwad, Third 'Death' In Maharashtra In 24 Hours

Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation said the patient was also suffering from COPD (pulmonary disease) and atrial fibrillation.

A 73-year-old man who tested positive for H3N2 virus died during treatment in Maharashtra's Pimpri Chinchwad on Thursday. In a statement, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) said the patient was also suffering from COPD (pulmonary disease) and atrial fibrillation, ANI reported.

This is the third reported death due to H3N2 virus in the past 24 hours.

The man was undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) for the last four days at the civic-run Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital.

"The man was already suffering from asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and atrial fibrillation (an irregular rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow). Two days ago, he tested positive for H3N2 (subtype of seasonal influenza)," Dr Laxman Gophane, medical officer at PCMC, told PTI.

Dr Gophane appealed to citizens not to panic and consult doctors if they exhibit symptoms of the H3N2 virus.

"The H3N2 has basic (flu) symptoms and necessary medicines like Tamiflu (an antiviral medication used to treat influenza A and B) are available with us. If symptoms like fever, cough and cold occur, people should not ignore them. They should approach hospitals and take medication under the guidance of medical practitioners. There is no need to panic," said the medical officer.

On Wednesday, Maharashtra Health Minister Tanaji Sawant said at least two persons died due to the H3N2 virus. A 23-year-old male medical student died in Ahmednagar and a 72-year-old man passed away in Nagpur.

Both had tested positive for Covid-19 and H3N2, IANS quoted Sawant as saying.

As of Wednesday, Maharashtra has recorded 352 cases of H3N2. "We are requesting people to take all precautions and avoid engaging in self-medication, as with timely treatment, the disease is fully curable," Sawant told media persons.

Last week, the Union Health Ministry reported two H3N2 deaths from Karnataka and Haryana. 

H3N2 appears to cause more hospitalisations than other influenza types, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The common symptoms of H3N2 infection are fever, cough, breathlessness and wheezing, while pneumonia and seizures are rare symptoms.