New Delhi: Health experts urged on Monday that people take precautions including using masks, practising improved hand hygiene, and getting an annual flu vaccination even though India is experiencing an increase in influenza infections brought on by the H3N2 virus.

According to the latest information available on IDSP-IHIP, 3,038 lab-confirmed cases of various influenza subtypes, including H3N2, have been reported by the states as of March 9. (Integrated Health Information Platform). This includes 486 instances up until March 9 and 1,245 cases in January, 1,307 cases in February.

"For the time being,  the government can mandate masks once more, at least in extremely sensitive areas like public transportation, hospitals, airports, train stations, and other modes of public transport. People should stay away from congested areas and use masks anytime they are in public, "Internal medicine specialist Dr. Sunil Sekri of Max Hospital in Gurugram advised.

Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the Indian Medical Association's National Covid-19 Task Force warned that the respiratory virus "spreads through droplets, so which means that the secretions can spread from person to person, and most people touch their nose and mouth at some point, or that secretions can remain on the fingers and when they shake hands with other people," it can likely spread. He made a case for the need of masks particularly in crowded indoor gatherings.

The seasonal Victoria and Yamagata lineages of influenza B viruses, as well as the Covid-19 virus, swine flu (H1N1), and H3N2 have all been in circulation, according to data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Both the H3N2 and the H3N1 influenza A viruses are what people typically refer to as the flu.

The most prevalent signs and symptoms are a persistent fever, a cough, a runny nose, and body pain. However, patients may also experience wheezing and/or dyspnea in more serious situations.

In the meantime, 524 daily Covid cases were reported on Sunday, marking the first increase in the virus in four months.

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