The Jharkhand health department has decided to issue a health advisory for influenza caused by the H3N2 virus following a spurt in influenza-like cases in various parts of the state.

“We are drawing up the health advisory, which would be issued to all 24 districts and other government departments soon in view of the rise in influenza-like cases in health centres. We will ask the civil administration to increase awareness about adopting Covid-appropriate behaviour like wearing masks, washing hands with soaps and using hand sanitisers and avoiding crowded places,” additional chief secretary (health) Arun Kumar Singh said.

“We will ask people to avoid contact with persons having flu/influenza-like symptoms. If the need arises, we may increase testing of all affected persons by collecting samples,” Singh said.

The number of patients with flu/influenza-like symptoms has increased in most of the health centres across the state in the last few weeks.

Epidemiologist Dr Praveen Karn said they were geared up for testing the H3N2 subtype of influenza.

“All the surveillances units in the districts across the state have been asked to be vigilant and in case of slightest doubt collect samples of patients with influenza-like symptoms. The samples will be tested at the ICMR’s Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) housed in Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi and MGM Medical College and Hospital (Jamshedpur),” Dr Karn said.

He said enough testing kits for H1N1 and H3N2 sub-types were available in the lab.

“We are adopting a cautious approach in view of the Union health ministry alert. However, so far there have been no positive cases of H3N2 subtype anywhere in the state. We have also asked the government hospitals across the state to keep their isolation wards ready in case of detection of any H3N2-positive cases. Hospitals have been asked to keep all patients with influenza-like symptoms in an isolation ward. Hospitals have also been asked to keep oxygen-supported beds ready,” said Dr Karn.

Two persons (one each from Karnataka and Haryana) have died of H3N2 influenza virus, leading the Union health ministry to send an alert to all states on Friday to closely monitor the situation. As on Friday, total cases of influenza stood at 3,038.

The Union health ministry has said that 3,97,814 cases of acute respiratory illness/influenza-like illness (ARI/ILI) were reported in the country in January and slightly increased to 4,36,523 in February. In the first nine days of March, there were 1,33,412 cases.

“Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that circulate in all parts of the world, and the cases are seen to increase during certain months globally. India every year witnesses two peaks of seasonal influenza — one from January to March and another post-monsoon,” said a health official in Jharkhand.