SPREAD OF H3N2 AND ITS PANDEMIC POTENTIAL
Questions :
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
- the total number of cases of the H3N2 virus among humans in the Country;
- whether India is ready for another pandemic since the virus has become transmissible among humans; and
- the measures being taken by Government to prevent potential future spillovers and outbreaks?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)
- to (c):
As per information provided by States/UTs, total 1317 cases of H3N2 have been reported from 1st January 2023 to 21st March 2023.
H3N2 influenza virus is in circulation globally as a seasonal influenza virus since the 1968 pandemic. Current H3N2 strain has always been transmissible among humans. Influenza viruses have a potential to keep changing, a phenomenon referred to as antigenic drift and antigenic shift. However, the currently strain is a seasonal influenza virus and no untypable or uncharacterised virus has been noticed in the Pan-India ILI/SARI surveillance.
With an aim to better prepare the country for any future public health emergencies, PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) has been launched with an outlay of Rs. 64,180 crores which aims to support states in terms of setting up of Integrated public health labs, surveillance network, establishing critical care blocks & upgrading research infrastructure, besides providing funds under various other scheme including National Health Mission (NHM).
