Flu on the rise: 249 H3N2 infections recorded in Maha since Jan 01

State has witnessed 3 deaths due to H1N1 and 1 death due to H3N2 virus infection so far this year

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The tally of H1N1 (swine flu) and H3N2 influenza infections reported in Maha- rashtra this year stands at 417 and 249, respectively, the state health department has said. A majority of these were detected in March.

There are currently 160 patients infected with flu viruses being treated at various hospitals across the state, it said.

In response to the rising number of H1N1 and H3N2 influenza cases and potential public demand, state has provided Rs70 lakh to districts to acquire flu shots, officials said on Tuesday.

Notably, while pri-

Influenza vaccines are designed to protect against the four main groups of type A and B flu viruses and are updated every year to cover the strains that are most likely to circulate during the upcoming flu season.

—Dr Lancelot Pinto, pulmonologist, at Hinduja Hospital vate physicians have been making a case for the flu vaccine, and are also witnessing a demand among those who can afford them, the government is yet to issue any official advisory on the issue. This comes at a time when Maharashtra has witnessed three deaths due to H1N1 and one death due to H3N2 virus infection, according to health department data. Three more suspected deaths including one in Pune city and another in Khadki cantonment area were reported due to the virus, but those are yet to be confirmed, it added.

Since 2015, state has been giving free influenza vaccines to people from high risk categories and pregnant women as well as healthcare workers. However, the demand has been negligible, officials claim.

For 2022-2023, the state had procured one lakh doses which were distributed to six divisions across Maharashtra, excluding Mumbai. According to state officials, 99,778 doses have already been used up.