India is in the grip of the flu season. Several cities are reporting a spurt in swine flu & conjunctivitis cases. What can you do to stay safe?

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Over the past few weeks, India has been witnessing a rise in influenza cases. Flu cases in the country's national capital are also witnessing a spike. As per a PTI report, hospitals in New Delhi are witnessing a close to 150 per cent spike in cases of the H3N2 virus. Amid the spike, a fatality is being reported from the country's financial capital Mumbai. If verified, it will bring the nation's death toll due to&nbsp;the H3N2 virus to three.

As per doctors, the influenza virus triggers symptoms like fever, cold and body aches, and in some cases causes a persistent cough that can make patients extremely weak.&nbsp;According to a Zee News report, in India, two Influenza 'A' type strains are behind this rise in flu cases. H3N2 has emerged as the dominant subtype of flu, it is followed by H1N1.

Watch |&nbsp;India: Two die as H3N2 influenza cases rise

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The nation has already confirmed two deaths due to H3N2, and as per reports, there has been another death.&nbsp;

As per reports, the alleged third death is of a 23-year-old MBBS student. The man, a student at a private institution, is believed to have caught the virus while out with friends. Reportedly, his health deteriorated after coming back from a trip to Alibaug in Konkan. Post Mortem&nbsp;found traces of the H3N2 virus in his blood.&nbsp;However, the&nbsp;fatality is yet to be verified.&nbsp;

Earlier&nbsp;too, there were claims of another&nbsp;fatality. Reports claimed that the death happened in Vadodara,&nbsp;Gujarat.&nbsp;

Of the two previously verified deaths, one was reported from Haryana, the other from Karnataka.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-reports-third-death-from-h3n2-in-indian-state-of-gujarat-571891">India reports third death from H3N2 flu, this time in Gujarat state</a>

Talking to PTI about the current strain, Dr Vikas Deswal, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Medanta, Gurugram said the influenza virus is the most prevalent virus that affects our respiratory system.

He explained that the virus is present in three different types: A, B, and C.

"Among these, subtype A is the most commonly found. One subtype of the influenza A virus is H3N2, which produces symptoms similar to other flu viruses such as cough, fever, cold, sore throat, fatigue, muscle pain, and respiratory complications, especially in children under two years, the elderly, and those with other medical conditions," he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/h3n2-influenza-india-witnesses-two-virus-related-deaths-570665">H3N2 Influenza changing pattern unexpectedly: Experts warn more hospitalisations</a>

Deswal caution that the virus can mutate over time and that antibiotics are not effective in its treatment. He recommended that people should follow precautions such as "avoid touching surfaces, wash hands, follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, practice social distancing, wear masks, and avoid going out if experiencing viral symptoms."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Over the past few weeks, India has been witnessing a rise in influenza cases. Flu cases in the country's national capital are also witnessing a spike. As per a PTI report, hospitals in New Delhi are witnessing a close to 150 per cent spike in cases of the H3N2 virus.

Over the past few weeks, India has been witnessing a rise in influenza cases. Flu cases in the country's national capital are also witnessing a spike. As per a PTI report, hospitals in New Delhi are witnessing a close to 150 per cent spike in cases of the H3N2 virus. Amid the spike, a fatality is being reported from the country's financial capital Mumbai. If verified, it will bring the nation's death toll due to the H3N2 virus to three. As per doctors, the influenza virus triggers symptoms like fever, cold and body aches, and in some cases causes a persistent cough that can make patients extremely weak. According to a Zee News report, in India, two Influenza 'A' type strains are behind this rise in flu cases. H3N2 has emerged as the dominant subtype of flu, it is followed by H1N1. Watch | India: Two die as H3N2 influenza cases rise The nation has already confirmed two deaths due to H3N2, and as per reports, there has been another death. As per reports, the alleged third death is of a 23-year-old MBBS student. The man, a student at a private institution, is believed to have caught the virus while out with friends. Reportedly, his health deteriorated after coming back from a trip to Alibaug in Konkan. Post Mortem found traces of the H3N2 virus in his blood. However, the fatality is yet to be verified. Earlier too, there were claims of another fatality. Reports claimed that the death happened in Vadodara, Gujarat. Of the two previously verified deaths, one was reported from Haryana, the other from Karnataka. Also read | India reports third death from H3N2 flu, this time in Gujarat state Talking to PTI about the current strain, Dr Vikas Deswal, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Medanta, Gurugram said the influenza virus is the most prevalent virus that affects our respiratory system. He explained that the virus is present in three different types: A, B, and C. "Among these, subtype A is the most commonly found. One subtype of the influenza A virus is H3N2, which produces symptoms similar to other flu viruses such as cough, fever, cold, sore throat, fatigue, muscle pain, and respiratory complications, especially in children under two years, the elderly, and those with other medical conditions," he said. Also read | H3N2 Influenza changing pattern unexpectedly: Experts warn more hospitalisations Deswal caution that the virus can mutate over time and that antibiotics are not effective in its treatment. He recommended that people should follow precautions such as "avoid touching surfaces, wash hands, follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, practice social distancing, wear masks, and avoid going out if experiencing viral symptoms." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Third person reportedly dies in Mumbai as H3N2 cases rise in India

In what scientists are calling a breakthrough, they have finally figured out the biological reasoning behind an uptick in cold and cases of flu in winter. A study published, on Tuesday, found that cold air leads to a weakened immune response from the body, particularly the nose.&nbsp;

“This is the first time that we have a biologic, molecular explanation regarding one factor of our innate immune response that appears to be limited by colder temperatures,” Stanford University School of Medicine professor, Dr Zara Patel, who was not a part of the study told CNN.&nbsp;

Published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the study found that since the nose is the first site of contact for respiratory viruses as well important for the body’s immune response.&nbsp;

This factor makes the nose particularly vulnerable to lower temperatures, in fact, the study found that lowering the temperature by just five degrees Celsius reduced the billions of virus and bacteria-fighting cells in the nostrils, by at least 50 per cent.&nbsp; 
 
“Cold air is associated with increased viral infection because you’ve essentially lost half of your immunity just by that small drop in temperature,” said the co-author of the study, Dr Benjamin Bleier, a rhinologist and the director of otolaryngology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear.&nbsp;

According to Bleier, that’s why masks work because not only do they protect you from “direct inhalation of viruses”, they also act&nbsp;like a “sweater on your nose” protecting it from the chilly air. Bleier and her team conducted a study on four participants who were exposed to a 4.4-degree-Celsius temperature for 15 minutes.&nbsp;

However, the study was completed in vitro which means it was not conducted on a live subject but on human tissue in a lab. Notably, they also found that the nose increases the replication of decoy extracellular vesicles by 160 per cent when faced with lower temperatures. &nbsp;

“EVs act as decoys, so now when you inhale a virus, the virus sticks to these decoys instead of sticking to the cells,” said Bleier to CNN. The co-author also said that these EVs do not divide like normal cells; they are mini versions of them, “specifically designed to go and kill these viruses.” Since they have up to 20 times more receptors than the original cells which enhances their capability to trap germs.&nbsp;

Subsequently, these EVs are expelled with the mucus out of the body as it continues to fight the germs and further multiply. However, the study also noted a 42 per cent drop in the number of EVs when exposed to just a few more degrees drop in temperature. Additionally, those that do remain have at least 70 per cent fewer receptors on each vesicle making it less sticky and lessening your ability to fight off respiratory infections by half, as mentioned earlier.&nbsp;

In what scientists are calling a breakthrough, they have finally figured out the biological reasoning behind an uptick in cold and cases of flu in winter. A study published, on Tuesday, found that cold air leads to a weakened immune response from the body, particularly the nose.

In what scientists are calling a breakthrough, they have finally figured out the biological reasoning behind an uptick in cold and cases of flu in winter. A study published, on Tuesday, found that cold air leads to a weakened immune response from the body, particularly the nose. “This is the first time that we have a biologic, molecular explanation regarding one factor of our innate immune response that appears to be limited by colder temperatures,” Stanford University School of Medicine professor, Dr Zara Patel, who was not a part of the study told CNN. Published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the study found that since the nose is the first site of contact for respiratory viruses as well important for the body’s immune response. This factor makes the nose particularly vulnerable to lower temperatures, in fact, the study found that lowering the temperature by just five degrees Celsius reduced the billions of virus and bacteria-fighting cells in the nostrils, by at least 50 per cent. “Cold air is associated with increased viral infection because you’ve essentially lost half of your immunity just by that small drop in temperature,” said the co-author of the study, Dr Benjamin Bleier, a rhinologist and the director of otolaryngology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. According to Bleier, that’s why masks work because not only do they protect you from “direct inhalation of viruses”, they also act like a “sweater on your nose” protecting it from the chilly air. Bleier and her team conducted a study on four participants who were exposed to a 4.4-degree-Celsius temperature for 15 minutes. However, the study was completed in vitro which means it was not conducted on a live subject but on human tissue in a lab. Notably, they also found that the nose increases the replication of decoy extracellular vesicles by 160 per cent when faced with lower temperatures. “EVs act as decoys, so now when you inhale a virus, the virus sticks to these decoys instead of sticking to the cells,” said Bleier to CNN. The co-author also said that these EVs do not divide like normal cells; they are mini versions of them, “specifically designed to go and kill these viruses.” Since they have up to 20 times more receptors than the original cells which enhances their capability to trap germs. Subsequently, these EVs are expelled with the mucus out of the body as it continues to fight the germs and further multiply. However, the study also noted a 42 per cent drop in the number of EVs when exposed to just a few more degrees drop in temperature. Additionally, those that do remain have at least 70 per cent fewer receptors on each vesicle making it less sticky and lessening your ability to fight off respiratory infections by half, as mentioned earlier.

Scientists have finally found the reason why people get more colds and flu during winters

Influenza has returned to Europe raising concerns about a prolonged “twindemic”, that is the prospect of a severe flu season happening alongside an increase in Covid-19 cases.

Europe reports a rising cases of severe flu viruses, concerns over a prolonged 'Twindemic'

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