Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) led by DrNisar-ul-Hassan on Wednesday said that H3N2 strain has overtaken swine flu (H1N1) virus.
“So far this flu season, Swine flu (H1N1) virus has beendominant, but a more aggressive H3N2 strain has overtaken it. Now, H3N2 is more frequently reported thanH1N1,” said DAK president and flu expert Dr Hassan in a statement.
“According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), in recent weeks more than half of the reported flu cases are due to H3N2infection,” he said. DrNisar said thevirus is emerging as a predominant strain and is causing a secondary wave offlu. “History has shown that flu seasons that were dominated by H3N2 were moresevere – causing more hospitalizations and deaths than seasons dominated by H1N1or B virus,” he said adding that “H3N2 can be particularly deadly for olderadults and very young children.”
“With the shift to a dangerous strain, we could have a badsecond half of this flu season which has just begun,” he said. “The symptoms ofH3N2 flu include cough, runny nose, sorethroat, high grade fever and bodyache,”he said. “Vaccine is the best way to protect against the virus and its seriouscomplications.”