Haryana: 'No Need To Panic, Influenza Is Seasonal And We'll Be Able To Tackle It,' Says State Health Dept Official

A senior medical officer with Haryana's health department stated that there are four types of influenza viruses. He also said that there is no need to be panic as the situation is under the control.

Dr Jaiprakash, Senior Medical Officer, Haryana Health Department ( Image Source :ANI )

A senior medical officer at the health department of Haryana said on Saturday that there are four types of influenza viruses. "In total, three cases of influenza have been reported in Gurugram: one from Rohtak, one from a private facility, and one from our testing. One of these cases has been identified as H3N2 and the other two as type B," Dr Jaiprakash was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI.

Haryana | There are four types of influenza viruses. If we look at it in totality, 3 cases of influenza have been reported in Gurugram - one cross notified from Rohtak, one from private facility & one from our testing. One of these cases has been identified as H3N2 & the… https://t.co/XgcnLk1g8Y pic.twitter.com/O1EW3dAlH1

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2023

He added: "There is no need to panic. Influenza is a seasonal virus. We are able to control it through our testing and surveillance. We have dedicated wards for influenza".

There is no need to panic. Influenza is a seasonal virus. We are able to control it through our testing and surveillance. We have dedicated wards for influenza: Dr Jaiprakash, Senior Medical Officer, Health Dept pic.twitter.com/lj4sZRLS38

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2023

Earlier in the day, amid a rise in cases of H3N2 flu, the chief medical officer (CMO) of Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh on Saturday asked people to wear face masks and maintain adequate distance from each other to stay safe.

CMO R K Agnihotri told block medical officers (BMOs), medical officers, and doctors attached to community health centres at a workshop here that H3N2 flu cases are "increasing rapidly" in the country.

On March 11, the Centre requested that all states and union territories follow operational guidelines for integrated surveillance of respiratory pathogens manifesting as cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infection (SARI).

According to data from the Union Health Ministry, 451 cases of H3N2 were reported in the country between January 2 and March 5.

So far, two people have died in India as a result of seasonal influenza subtype H3N2, one in Karnataka and one in Haryana.

(With Inputs From Agencies)