- The groups most at risk include children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. While most patients recover within a week, complications like bronchitis or pneumonia can develop, and those with underlying health conditions face heightened dangers.
- Hospitals across the region are reporting an increase in admissions as patients struggle with prolonged symptoms. “Unlike the regular flu, H3N2 tends to be harsher and leaves people weakened for longer,” explained Dr. Mayanka Lodha Seth of Redcliffe Labs. Doctors stress that while there is no specific cure, treatment usually involves rest, hydration, fever medication, and in serious cases, antiviral drugs.
- Preventive measures such as masking, frequent handwashing, avoiding crowds, and annual flu vaccinations remain the best defenses.
An aggressive wave of H3N2 influenza has swept across northern India this autumn, with the Delhi metropolitan region worst affected. The capital and its surrounding towns and districts in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan — home to around 46 million people — are reporting unusually high levels of infection. Surveys suggest that nearly 70% of households currently have at least one member showing flu-like symptoms, underscoring the scale of the outbreak.
Doctors say the H3N2 subtype of Influenza A has emerged as the predominant strain in circulation. This form of flu typically presents with a sudden high fever, chills, sore throat, cough, headaches, body aches, and extreme fatigue. Some patients also experience appetite loss, nausea, or stomach problems. Unlike the common cold or milder strains of flu, H3N2 infections are often more severe and longer-lasting, leading to extended illness and, in some cases, hospitalization, according to dw.com
The groups most at risk include children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. While most patients recover within a week, complications like bronchitis or pneumonia can develop, and those with underlying health conditions face heightened dangers.
Warning signs requiring urgent medical attention include difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, blue lips or nails, dehydration, or persistent high fever despite treatment.
Hospitals across the region are reporting an increase in admissions as patients struggle with prolonged symptoms. “Unlike the regular flu, H3N2 tends to be harsher and leaves people weakened for longer,” explained Dr. Mayanka Lodha Seth of Redcliffe Labs. Doctors stress that while there is no specific cure, treatment usually involves rest, hydration, fever medication, and in serious cases, antiviral drugs. Preventive measures such as masking, frequent handwashing, avoiding crowds, and annual flu vaccinations remain the best defenses.
The H3N2 strain has a long history. It first appeared during the 1968 influenza pandemic, when it developed from a combination of human and avian influenza viruses. Since then, it has continued to circulate worldwide, regularly mutating and re-emerging in seasonal waves. Scientists note that decades of genetic adaptation have made H3N2 highly efficient at spreading among humans and occasionally evading immune defenses, which is why updated vaccines are necessary every year.
A study published in 2024 highlighted changes in H3N2’s receptor-binding behavior, showing that the virus has become more adaptable to human tissue, increasing its transmissibility and ability to bypass immune protection. “Fifty years of evolution have left clear traces,” said Dr. Martin Beer of Germany’s Federal Institute for Animal Health, noting that while the virus continues to evolve, its first major shift already occurred decades ago.
Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other monitoring bodies assess the risk of a new pandemic from H3N2 as low, given no major structural changes have been detected in the virus. However, experts remain vigilant because influenza viruses can mutate rapidly. If H3N2 were to change in a way that significantly increased human-to-human transmission or enabled it to evade existing immunity, it could trigger a new epidemic or even a pandemic.
For now, doctors in India emphasize vigilance and prevention. With most households already touched by the outbreak, public health officials are urging vaccination, good hygiene practices, and early medical intervention when severe symptoms appear. While H3N2 is not a new virus, its capacity to strike hard, linger longer, and adapt quickly makes it a serious seasonal threat for millions across the region.
As with the coronavirus, doctors recommend frequent hand-washing, masking, avoiding crowds, maintaining a balanced diet and getting the latest annual flu vaccine.
There is no specific therapy for H3N2. Doctors will usually treat the patient’s symptoms with bed rest, plenty of fluids, and medicine to lower the fever. Serious cases and high-risk patients may be given anti-viral medication.
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