Gurgaon: Amid a spurt in cases of the H3N2 virus in the region, the health department reported the first case in Gurgaon on Friday. Its surveillance team tested 136 samples and found one of them, collected on March 15 from a four-year-old boy with a history of cough, cold and fever for 7 days, positive for H3N2. “Currently, the child, who does not have a travel history, is asymptomatic. The family has isolated the child, and we have put the family under surveillance. We took samples from two other family members on Friday and sent them for testing. We have a dedicated ward at the Civil Hospital in Sector 10 for H3N2 patients. Necessary medicines and all arrangements are ready in the district,” said Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, Gurgaon.He also said that a sufficient number of rapid response teams, 300 in total, are available in the district for active surveillance. They are under directions to keep a watch over any patient with symptoms.According to doctors, the first sign of influenza virus is usually a high fever, which begins about four to five days after exposure to the virus and lasts 10 to 15 days. A runny nose, a cough, red and watery eyes, and facial swelling can develop in the initial stage.People at higher risk of developing complications include children younger than 5 years, people 65 years and older, pregnant people, and people with certain long-term health conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, weakened immune systems, and neurological or neuro-developmental problems.Doctors advised precaution, saying it is crucial to avoid crowded places, travel only if necessary, practice good hand and respiratory hygiene, and seek medical advice if symptoms persist for more than two days.Dr Rajiva Gupta, a consultant at the internal medicine department of CK Birla Hospital, said, “There is a surge of H3N2 cases in the region now, but the severity of such cases is less. Some people with co-morbidities are getting hospitalised as they are in the high-risk zone. People need to wear masks and take precaution.”
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/4-yr-old-boy-first-h3n2-confirmed-case-in-city/articleshow/98745944.cms
