The resurgence of H3N2 in India: is it life-threatening?

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The world has been suffering from various pandemics from time to time leading to various deaths. Back in 2019 one such pandemic of covid 19 severely affected the lives of people and lead to a high mortality rate, recently at the start of 2023, there have been reports of various cases of the H3N2 virus in humans which have been causing fear in public whether it will be the next pandemic, H3N2 being a subtype of influenza A virus. Influenza is a viral infection that infects the lung, nose and throat, it is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus that is helically shaped belonging to the orthomyxovirus family. According to WHO, out of all influenza virus types, influenza A and influenza B viruses cause seasonal epidemics. influenza A virus is mainly responsible for seasonal flu, according to a 2007 study, there have been 3 influenza subtypes- H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 infected people throughout the world. H1N1 which is an orthomyxovirus containing glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase led to major outbreaks like the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic and 1977 Russian flu pandemic and the 2009 swine flu pandemic. H1N2 also from the orthomyxovirus family is found in pig populations and rarely seen in humans and this virus is also known as the bird flu virus. H3N2 also from the family of Orthomyxovirus can infect birds, and mammals, H3N2 derives its name from 2 surface proteins these are hemagglutinin (H) and Neuraminidase (N). H3N2 undergoes antigenic shift which protects it from immune response.

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This article talked about the upcoming strain of the virus which helped to gather specific attention to cope with and halt the strain and at the same time limit its progression. It was a great pleasure writing this article.

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