■ H3N2 outbreak ◇ Context: The Indian Council of Medical Rese | UPSC NOTES & CURRENT AFFAIRS
■ H3N2 outbreak
◇ Context: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed that the recent outbreak of a respiratory illness — with symptoms of cold, sore throat and fever accompanied by fatigue is caused by Influenza Sub-type H3N2.
◇ There are four types of seasonal influenza viruses, types A, B, C and D. Influenza A and B viruses circulate and cause seasonal epidemics of disease,
□ WHAT IS H3N2 VIRUS?
◇ H3N2 virus is a type of influenza virus called the influenza A virus. It is a respiratory viral infection that causes illnesses every year. This subtype of influenza A virus was discovered in 1968 in humans.
◇ The virus derives from types of protein strains of the influenza A virus – hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA).
◇ HA has over 18 different subtypes, each numbered H1 to H18 while NA has 11 different subtypes, each numbered N1 to N11. The H3N2 is a combination of the two protein strains of the influenza A virus.
