Karnataka government issues new guidelines amid rising H3N2 cases | Read here
There is no need to panic regarding the influenza A H3N2 virus infection in Karnataka and the guidelines will be released soon for people to take precautions, Health Minister K Sudhakar said on Monday at a meeting with the technical advisory committee and senior officials.
He said an order will be issued to instruct health staff at all hospitals to wear face masks, the PTI news agency said.
“The National Government has set a target of 25 tests per week in its guidelines and we are screening 25 cases of SARI (severe acute respiratory infections) and ILI (influenza-like illness) in Victoria and Vani Vilasa Hospitals to keep track of the variants,” she said. Sudhakar to media persons after the meeting.
The minister also said that the infection can be seen in children under 15 years old, and in seniors over 65 years old, pregnant women are also more likely to become infected. “Its spread can be prevented through measures such as cleanliness, avoiding crowds and hand hygiene.”
He also instructed health care workers to get flu vaccination which is given every year. Vaccines will be given by the government for specific doctors and staff, including those working in ICU, according to APK reports.
“This vaccine was given until 2019 and was later discontinued due to Covid. Now it resumes in all 31 districts. In total, 26 cases of H3N2, 10 cases of Influenza B 10 and 69 cases of Adeno were detected,” added Sudhakar.
The health minister also recommended avoiding sun exposure from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and drinking at least 2-3 liters of water, buttermilk, fresh water and fruit juices.
The H3N2, which has been widely circulated in recent months, causes more hospitalizations than other subtypes, said ICMR scientists who closely monitor ailments caused by respiratory viruses through the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories network.
Center presidents meeting to tackle H3N2 infection rise
The Union Health Ministry held a meeting with top health officials on Monday to discuss cases of the viral infection that is on an upward trend in India. The number of cases of H3N2 virus infection has risen significantly in India.
Experts have repeatedly called for precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of the H3N2 virus infections.
After the meeting, Dr. Shukla told ANI that the director general of health services had a meeting with all seniors from all major central government hospitals, including RML, Safdarjung and Lady Hardinge. He informed that the meeting was attended by experts in the field of medicine, pulmonary medicine.
The doctor suggested that people should take precautions, including wearing masks in crowded places.
“What we have decided is that if people continue to have mass gatherings, especially in areas where there is a higher risk of infection, such as hospitals, because many patients come to hospitals with various infections, wearing a mask will be good for them, because it mask not only prevents Covid, it also prevents other viral infections,” he said.
(With input from agencies)