PATNA: While over 3,000 cases of various subtypes of influenza, including H3N2, had been reported from across the country till March 9 and 955 cases of H1N1 till February, only one H3N2 and three H1N1 cases have so far been reported in Bihar. Health experts have attributed detection of less number of influenza cases in the state to fewer tests.
As per the official release of the Union ministry of health and family welfare, 3,038 laboratory confirmed cases of various subtypes of influenza, including H3N2, were reported till March 9 in India. Similarly, 1,33,412 cases of acute respiratory illness or influenza like illness were registered in first nine days of March, it said.
National office bearer of Indian Medical Association, Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, said though the official figures for both H3N2 and H1N1 were less in Bihar compared to the other states, this was because of lack of test. "Southern states are reporting more cases because of more tests. Doctors too have research-oriented approach there and they are testing more samples. People are more conscious in those states," he added.
After the instruction from the Bihar health department, only four samples were sent to Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences for test from Patna district.
Dr Neeraj Bharti, consultant (internal medicine) at Jaya Prabha Medanta, said the tests for H3N2 and H1N1 through flu panel PCR (polymerase chain reaction) are done in private labs too, but they are expensive.
"Be it H3N1, H1N1 or Covid-19, the symptoms are almost similar and cannot be predicted without proper test. However, H3N2 shows a slight more severity compared to H1N1 and other seasonal flu as it is a novel strain and herd immunity has not been achieved yet," said Dr Bharti.
Another city-based physician, Dr Diwakar Tejaswi. said while in H1N1, people experience severe cough, there is breathlessness along with cough in Covid cases. "Covid-19 symptoms vary depending on variant. Delta variant was serious, but the recent variants showed mild symptoms," he added.