H3N2 Influenza Virus

H3N2 Influenza Virus
 

News: India has reportedly recorded two deaths due to the H3N2 influenza virus in Haryana and Karnataka.
 

What is the H3N2 virus?
 According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), H3N2v is a non-human influenza virus that normally circulates in pigs and that has infected humans - known as ‘swine influenza viruses’.
 When these viruses infect humans, they are termed 'variant' viruses. The specific H3N2 variant virus was detected in 2011 in humans with genes from avian, swine, and human viruses and the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus M gene.
 

What are the symptoms?
 The symptoms include fever, respiratory issues like cough and runny nose, as well as other symptoms including body aches, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. These symptoms usually may last for about a week, however, some people may endure them for a longer period of time too.
 

Treatment and prevention:
 Medications to be taken as per prescriptions. The currently recommended drugs – oseltamivir, zanamivir, peramivir, and baloxavir – are available by prescription from the doctor.
 Some of the precautions include annual flu vaccinations, and regular hand washing.
 In case of flu, people are advised to stay at home for 24 hours after the fever has subsided.