Category: Flu Virus

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Ever since the Covid pandemic hit the world, we have been hearing of multiple waves of the infection, even as SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to evolve. The XBB 1.16 variant is the latest addition and is said to be driving the recent surge in Covid cases. It has been marked a Variant of Concern as it is said to be more transmissible and escapes immunity smartly. The alarming recent surge called for a high-level meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to review the situation on March 23.

Influenza-like Infections (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI), especially Covid, H3N2 virus, H1N1 (Swine Flu) and the Adenovirus, have largely affected the population in Karnataka since January this year.

In the early weeks of January, when the weather was transitioning from winter to summer, both government and private-run hospitals saw an upsurge in flu-like cases among people of all age groups.

Health dept on high alertThe Karnataka Health Department, which has set off alarm bells, is on high alert. This is because after a lull, Covid cases in the state, especially in Bengaluru, have spiked. According to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), 349 samples were found with the XBB 1.16 variant from January to March. The central governments health information portal also showed that Karnataka saw over 70,000 ILI/SARI cases from January till now.

XBB 1.16 variant incirculation since JanuaryThe first case of the XBB 1.16 variant was reported in January. Karnataka is said to have recorded 61 cases of the variant and stands third in the country after Maharashtra and Telangana in the number of cases. The state health department has requested the Centre to augment the vaccine supplies. Doctors from the Bengaluru Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) said that over the last few weeks, most positive cases were seen with the older Covid variants. But the recent spike in cases could be attributed to the new variant.

Namma Bengaluru and its sizeable Covid/ILI/SARI caseloadThe Silicon City is contributing a sizable chunk to the states Covid caseload. After many weeks, positive cases in the state crossed the 600-mark in March, registering an uptick in hospitalisations. From just 12 hospitalisations on March 1, they went up steadily to cross 600 cases. Bengaluru alone contributed over 400 active Covid cases with the positivity rate per week crossing 8 per cent. Three deaths were reported in March with patients having had a history of ILI and SARI.

The sudden rise in hospitalisations in Bengaluru, especially ICU admissions requiring ventilator support, triggered the health department to direct the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to take up a clinical audit to understand the reason for the spike. It also wanted the Palike to investigate if there is any co-infection (simultaneous infection) of H3N2 and Covid as both share similar respiratory infection signs and symptoms.

Dr MK Sudarshan, chairman, Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), said Karnataka has seen a high number of H3N2 and H1N1 cases along with Covid in the past two months. The Union Health Ministry data shows a similar spike in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. He said increasing ICU admissions are a concern. ILI/SARI viruses do not have the same qualities as SARS-COV-2 and do not cause any outbreak, he said. Intense testing will help study different viruses in infected people and allow the authorities to take preventative measures. The situation is not expected to spiral down in the coming weeks and the cases will decline after the summer fully sets in, he said.

Health experts said there is no need to worry about H3N2 and H1N1 viruses. They normally affect children below 15 years and senior citizens over 65. There is no cause for worry as most of the people have been treated as outpatients, they said.

Dr Lakshmipathy from KC General Hospital said most hospitals are not testing all the samples as it is practically not possible and is expensive. Most patients are treated for symptoms and only critical cases are admitted. This may have led to underreporting of cases, he added.

Health dept on vigil, no need to panic: SudhakarHealth Minister Dr K Sudhakar said the health department is keeping a constant vigil on the spike and requested citizens not to panic but to take precautionary measures. Masks have been made mandatory for healthcare workers and all those working in hospitals.

On the influenza virus, health officials said testing has been increased and it has been made affordable. Since the anti-influenza vaccine is expensive and needs to be taken every year, the government has not added it in the universal immunisation programme. The influenza virus mutates quickly and the vaccine formulation has to be changed every year to cover maximum variants. The government has, however, said people should take the vaccine if they can afford it.

Mild infection settlesin less than a weekDr Swati Rajagopal, Consultant - Infectious Disease & Travel Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru said it is more likely that Omicron offsprings - XBB 1.15 and XBB 1.16 - could be responsible for the rise in cases in the state. These variants reportedly have greater transmissibility and infectivity, she said and added that pre-existing immunity along with the vaccination status of the community could be important factors.

Covid-19, influenza A, B and sub-variant H3N2 among adults along with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus infections have been reported in the last month, she said. Influenza cases were not the focus over the last three years as the emphasis was on Covid, she added.

So far, the majority of reported cases appear to have a mild infection and settle in a week. However, individuals who are immuno-compromised or suffering from pre-existing medical issues need to be watchful and report any symptoms of viral illnesses to the doctor, she said.

Doctors said that most patients showed symptoms of fever, cold and cough. Dr Rajath Athreja, Head of Department (Paediatrics), Sakra World Hospital, said, We saw a rise in the number of patients coming with ILI symptoms in January. Around 100 patients came daily with symptoms like cold, cough and fever. However, the cases of severe infections needing hospital admissions remained low. At Sakra, only samples of inpatients with extreme conditions are sent for testing.

Get precautionary doseDr Swati Rajagopal stressed the need to take the third precautionary anti-Covid vaccine and to continue to wear masks to avoid infection. She said the vulnerable should protect themselves in closed environments.

Testing along with sequencing still holds the key to tracking new variants. Usually, respiratory viral infections are common during winter. However, monsoon is traditionally the time we see a rise in cases. It is vital to be aware, but not panic. The basics of hand hygiene, cough etiquette, masks in crowded indoor areas, vaccination and testing still hold the key, she said.

Deaths due to the H3N2 virusKarnataka reported the first death due to the H3N2 virus in India on March 10. An 87-year-old man from Hassan passed away on March 1. The state health department said he suffered from fever, cough and breathlessness, was asthmatic and had an acute kidney injury.

Health officials said the death occurred only due to the patients old age and his comorbidities.According to data from the Union Health Ministry, Karnataka has seen 16 H3N2 cases from January to March 2023 and 4,700 H1N1 cases from 2018 till March 2023. In all, 201 have been declared dead.Indias first Covid death was also reported in the state, that of a a 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi on March 10, 2020.

What are the ILIs to look out for (H3N2, H1N1, Adenovirus)Seasonal flu/influenza is an infectious disease spread through the cough or sneeze of an infected person or through contact with droplets. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines ILI as an acute respiratory infection with a measured fever of 38 degrees Celsius or more and a cough lasting ten days. SARI cases are similar to ILI, but the need for hospitalisation is higher.

The disease is self-limiting and lasts five to seven days and has low morbidity and mortality rates. Infants, elderly, pregnant women and those on long-term medication, particularly steroids, are at higher risk.

What is XBB 1.16? Should you worry?XBB 1.16 is a recombinant lineage of the virus and belongs to one of the many XBB lineages of Covid that is currently in circulation in India and abroad. The new variant is highly contagious and is said to evade immunity. Experts opined that the XBB 1.16 variant which causes symptoms like a blocked nose, sore throat, headache, fever, muscle pain and others lasts up to four days. Doctors said patients get cured without any major treatment and need for hospitalisation. However, they cautioned people against letting their guard down and said that those with co-morbid conditions and the elderly should take extra precautions.

SymptomsFever,chills, malaise,loss of appetite, nausea, sneezing and dry cough lasting several days are the most common symptoms lasting up to three weeks. The symptoms for Covid and ILI/SARI are primarily the same. Covid symptoms appear after 2 to 14 daysbut the influenza symptoms show within1 to 4 days

Precautions

Cover your mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing

Wash hands regularlywith soap and water

Follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour & avoid crowded places

Drink plentyof water and consume nutritious food

Avoidtouchingeyes and nose

Dontspit inpublic

Dont eat together sitting close to one another

Dont take antibiotics without consulting a physician

Read more from the original source:

Dance of multiple flu viruses in Karnataka- The New Indian Express

INDIANAPOLIS, March 28, 2023 Have a cough, sore throat and congestion? Any number of respiratory viruses could be responsible. Conventional tests can identify certain likely culprits by relying on chemical reactions, but some researchers want to swap chemistry for electrical changes sensed by nanomaterials. Today, scientists report using a single-atom-thick nanomaterial to build a device that can simultaneously detect the presence of the viruses that cause COVID-19 and the flu at much lower levels and much more quickly than conventional tests for either.

The researchers will present their results at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Spring 2023 is a hybrid meeting being held virtually and in-person March 2630, and features more than 10,000 presentations on a wide range of science topics.

The symptoms of both flu and COVID-19 overlap considerably, making it difficult to distinguish between them, notes Deji Akinwande, Ph.D., who is presenting the work at the meeting.

When both of these viruses are circulating together as they did earlier this winter, it would be immensely useful to have a sensor that can simultaneously detect whether you have COVID, flu, none of the above or both, he says.

Akinwande, who is at The University of Texas at Austin, says that the device he and colleagues are developing could be modified to test for other infections as well.

The group, including Dmitry Kireev, Ph.D., a postdoc in Akinwandes lab, constructed the COVID-19 and flu sensor using graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice pattern. Its extreme thinness renders graphene highly sensitive to any electrical changes in its environment. Akinwande and other researchers see enormous potential in using it and other, similar nanomaterials to create sensors for many different applications.

These ultra-thin nanomaterials generally hold the record for best sensitivity, even down to the detection of single atoms, and they can improve the ability to detect very small quantities of basically anything that needs to be sensed, whether its bacteria or viruses, in gas or in blood, Akinwande says.

Previously, his group reported designing a graphene-based temporary tattoo that could monitor blood pressure. The tattoo consists of pairs of sensors placed along the arteries of the arm. One half of each pair sends out an electrical current that its partner detects. This signal is used to determine blood flow.

To build the infection sensor, the researchers had to make graphene respond to the presence of viral protein. To do so, they looked to the immune system, which produces antibodies that are fine-tuned to recognize and latch onto particular pathogens. The researchers linked antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and against the flu virus to graphene. When a sample from an infected person is placed on the sensor, these antibodies bind to their target proteins, prompting a change in the electrical current.

The researchers did not have the safety facilities needed to use whole, active flu or SARS-CoV-2 viruses to test the roughly square-inch sensor. To substitute, they used proteins from these viruses delivered in fluid intended to resemble saliva. Their results indicated that not only could the sensor detect the presence of the proteins, it could do so when they were present at extremely low quantities. This sensitivity suggested the sensor could be used for detecting the much more sparse viral particles found in breath, Akinwande says.

The sensor also worked quickly, returning results within about 10 seconds of dropping in a sample, he says. By comparison, conventional COVID-19 tests can take minutes or hours, depending on the type, and a dual COVID and flu test recently authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration takes about half an hour to produce results.

Akinwande and his group are working to improve its performance further, including by expanding the slate of viruses it can detect. With funding from the National Science Foundation, they are developing a sensor designed to test for SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as omicron and delta. While they are currently focusing on a two-variant design, the test could be adapted to simultaneously identify even more, they say.

The researchers acknowledge support and funding from the National Science Foundation.

For health and safety information for ACS Spring 2023, please visit theFAQ webpage.

Excerpt from:

Is it COVID-19 or the flu? New sensor could tell you in 10 seconds

Dutch coach shocked after losing five players to flu virus  Reuters

Read more:

Dutch coach shocked after losing five players to flu virus - Reuters

Flu season is wrapping up, and weekly COVID-19 diagnoses are declining. But if youre currently sick with a respiratory illness, youre not alone.

Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that a mixture of respiratory viruses are circulating right now, including common coronaviruses (other than SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19), respiratory adenovirus, and parainfluenza (which is distinct from influenza).

All of these viruses can cause cold-like symptoms including fever, runny nose, sore throat, and cough, so its very, very hard to tell the difference between any of them clinically, says Dr. Helen Chu, an associate professor of infectious disease at the University of Washington and a principal investigator at the Seattle Flu Alliance, which tracks respiratory disease spread. (Norovirus and rotavirus are also going around right now, but they cause gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting and diarrhea.)

While lots of viruses are spreading right now, one respiratory virus is currently causing a particularly high percentage of positives among test results tracked by the CDC: human metapneumovirus (HMPV). More than 20% of antigen and 10% of PCR tests voluntarily reported to the CDC by U.S. laboratories during the week of March 11 came back positive, the agencys data show. It is important to note that this is expected respiratory activity for these viruses for this time of year, a CDC representative told TIME, noting that the agency is also tracking rises in adenovirus and parainfluenza.

Dr. John Williams, who is chief of infectious diseases at UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh and has studied HMPV for more than 20 years, agrees that an uptick in HMPV is not surprising. In North America, HMPVs peak season is typically February to May, a bit after the typical flu season, he says.

This season, we saw an above-normal surge of RSV and above-normal surge of flu, Williams says. Knowing the seasonality of metapneumovirus, I said, I bet were going to see a similar surge of metapneumovirus. And, in fact, we are.

Plenty of people have likely had HMPV without ever knowing what it was, since it typically results in familiar cold-like symptoms like cough, fever, and nasal congestion. In serious caseswhich are most common among young children and elderly or immunocompromised adultsHMPV can also lead to complications including bronchitis and pneumonia, according to the CDC. Some people also experience shortness of breath.

Its difficult to say if this years HMPV season is worse than usual, says Dr. Ann Falsey, a professor of medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, because we test a lot more now. People are very attuned to getting a swab after three years of the pandemic.

Still, many cases of HMPV likely go undetected, Williams says. These days, clinicians commonly test for SARS-CoV-2, influenza, or RSV if they see a patient with a respiratory illness. Some tests can pick up HMPV, but they tend to be expensive and used less frequently.

Researchers wont fully understand how widely viruses like HMPV spread without broader testing, Falsey says. And if doctors dont know why a patient is sick they may unnecessarily prescribe antibiotics, she says, which can contribute to antibiotic resistance.

But Chu says its not always necessary for patients to know exactly which illness they have. Its valuable to test for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza because there are treatments for those conditions, Chu says. Screening for RSV also makes sense because it can cause severe disease, especially among young kids. But if those viruses have been ruled out, Chu says theres usually no need to test further, since there arent specific treatments for HMPV and many of the other respiratory viruses that circulate during a normal cold and flu season.

Williams says there may be vaccines and treatments for more respiratory viruses in the future. But if youre sick with an unknown illness right now, follow tried-and-true advice: get plenty of rest, take over-the-counter medications for your symptoms, seek medical care if they become severe, and stay home to avoid infecting anybody else.

And, Falsey says, remember that many of the disease-prevention tactics used during the pandemic may work against other viruses, too. Now that were all out circulating again, all these different viruses will be at us again, she says. If you are particularly frail or have underlying medical conditions, we did learn that masking works if youre in a crowded place.

More Must-Reads From TIME

Write to Jamie Ducharme at jamie.ducharme@time.com.

View post:

These Respiratory Viruses Are Going Around in Spring 2023 | Time

Dutch coach shocked after losing five players to flu virus  CNA

Read more:

Dutch coach shocked after losing five players to flu virus - CNA

Suspected Outbreak of Bird Flu Virus in Ithaca  WENY-TV

Read the original:

Suspected Outbreak of Bird Flu Virus in Ithaca - WENY-TV

Twin peaks: Which virus is driving the second flu wave ...  Vaccines Today

Here is the original post:

Twin peaks: Which virus is driving the second flu wave ... - Vaccines Today

Euro 2024 qualifiers: Club rivalry issues affect France and Spain while flu virus sweeps through Netherlands camp  Sky Sports

See the original post:

Euro 2024 qualifiers: Club rivalry issues affect France and Spain while flu virus sweeps through Netherlands camp - Sky Sports

COVID-19 vs. flu: Similarities and differences

COVID-19 (coronavirus) and the flu have many similarities and differences. Find out what to know and how to protect yourself from these diseases.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have heard that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is similar to the flu (influenza). COVID-19 and the flu are both contagious respiratory diseases. They are both caused by viruses. They have some common symptoms. But COVID-19 and flu infections can affect people differently. Also, since the flu has been around much longer, health care providers know more about how to treat it, while they continue to learn more about COVID-19.

The viruses that cause COVID-19 and the flu spread in similar ways. They both can spread between people who are in close contact. They can spread farther when people are in a poorly ventilated indoor space. The viruses spread through respiratory droplets or aerosols released through talking, sneezing or coughing. These droplets can land in the mouth or nose of someone nearby or be inhaled. These viruses also can spread if a person touches a surface with one of the viruses on it and then touches the mouth, nose or eyes.

COVID-19 and the flu have many symptoms in common, including:

The signs and symptoms of both diseases can range from no symptoms to mild or severe symptoms. Because COVID-19 and the flu have similar symptoms, it can be hard to diagnose which condition you have based on your symptoms alone. Testing may be done to see if you have COVID-19 or the flu. You also can have both diseases at the same time.

Both COVID-19 and the flu can lead to serious complications, such as:

Many people with the flu or mild symptoms of COVID-19 can recover at home with rest and fluids. But some people become seriously ill from the flu or COVID-19 and need to stay in the hospital. These infections also may be deadly.

COVID-19 and the flu have several differences, including different causes, complications and treatments. COVID-19 and the flu also spread differently, have different severity levels and a few different symptoms, and can be prevented by different vaccines.

COVID-19 and the flu are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, while flu is caused by influenza A and B viruses.

Symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu appear at different times and have some differences. COVID-19 symptoms generally appear 2 to 14 days after exposure. Flu symptoms usually appear about 1 to 4 days after exposure.

COVID-19 appears to be contagious for a longer time and to spread more quickly than the flu. With COVID-19, you may be more likely to experience loss of taste or smell.

Severe illness is more frequent with COVID-19 than with the flu. Compared with historical flu cases, COVID-19 may cause more hospital stays and death for people age 18 and older, even those who have no other health challenges.

So far, more than 95 million people have had COVID-19 in the U.S. as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 1 million people have died of COVID-19 in the U.S.

By comparison, during the 2021-2022 flu season in the U.S., between 8 and 13 million people had the flu and between 5,000 and 14,000 people died of the flu.

COVID-19 can cause different complications from the flu, such as blood clots, post-COVID conditions and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Flu infection leads to secondary bacterial infection more often than COVID-19 infection does.

Another difference is that the flu can be treated with a few different antiviral drugs. Only one antiviral drug, called remdesivir, is currently approved to treat COVID-19. Researchers are evaluating many drugs and treatments for COVID-19. Some drugs may help reduce the severity of COVID-19.

You can get an annual flu vaccine to help reduce your risk of the flu. The flu vaccine also can reduce the severity of the flu and the risk of serious complications.

Each year's flu vaccine provides protection from the three or four influenza viruses that are expected to be the most common during that year's flu season. The vaccine can be given as a shot, also called an injection, or as a nasal spray.

The flu vaccine doesn't prevent you from getting COVID-19. Also, research shows that getting the flu vaccine does not make you more likely to get other respiratory infections. Getting the flu vaccine may lower your risk of COVID-19 infection.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given emergency use authorization or approval to four COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. A vaccine can prevent you from getting the COVID-19 virus or prevent you from becoming seriously ill if you get the COVID-19 virus.

You are considered up to date with your vaccines if you have gotten all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including booster doses, when you become eligible.

Flu season in North America is highest in December, January and February. It's possible that the viruses that cause COVID-19 and the flu may spread in your community at the same time during the flu season. If this happens, people could become ill with one or both diseases at the same time.

Testing can determine which virus you may have and help guide health care providers to the appropriate treatment. People who become seriously ill from either virus may need to stay in the hospital, which could cause the hospitals to become full. Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu can help reduce the spread of the viruses that cause these diseases.

Get the COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine. You can get both at the same visit if they are due at the same time. You also can take the same steps to reduce your risk of infection from the viruses that cause COVID-19, the flu and other respiratory infections by following several standard precautions. The CDC recommends following these precautions:

If you become sick with the flu, you can help prevent the spread of the flu by staying home and away from others. Continue to stay home until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours.

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Subscribe!

You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.

Please, try again in a couple of minutes

Retry

.

Read more:

COVID-19 vs. flu: Similarities and differences - Mayo Clinic

This period of time before you get symptoms of infection is called the incubation period. In cases of the flu, this is usually between one and four days.

Influenza, often just called the flu, is a respiratory illness thats caused by a virus. Its contagious, meaning it spreads from person to person.

While influenza viruses can circulate year-round, theyre more common in the fall and winter months of the year. This period is referred to as the flu season.

But once you get the virus, how long does it take to start feeling flu symptoms? Read on to learn more about how the flu develops and when it becomes contagious.

While the general incubation period for the flu is usually between one and four days, this period can vary from person to person. The average incubation period for the flu is two days.

This means that, on average, people start to develop flu symptoms about two days after coming into contact with the influenza virus.

Several things can influence how long the incubation period is for the flu, including:

Once you have the influenza virus, you can spread it to other people about a day before you first notice symptoms.

Remember, the average incubation period for the flu is about two days. So, if you come into contact with virus on Saturday morning, you can potentially start spreading it to others by Sunday evening. And by Monday afternoon, youll likely start feeling the dreaded body aches that come with the flu.

Viral shedding refers to the release of the virus from your body into your surrounding environment. It tends to peak during your first day experiencing symptoms. This means youre usually most contagious on this day. Once you develop symptoms, youll still be contagious for another five to seven days.

Children, older adults, and those with a weakened immune system may be contagious for a longer period of time.

Its often hard to know when you have the flu coming on. Unlike the symptoms of the common cold, which develop gradually, the symptoms of the flu often come on suddenly.

The common symptoms of the flu can include:

Children may also experience nausea, vomiting, or ear pain when they have the flu.

Symptoms of the flu typically last anywhere from three to seven days, thought you might feel lingering fatigue or weakness for up to two weeks. Learn more about how long the flu lasts.

The flu mostly spreads through respiratory particles that are released when your cough and sneeze. If you have the flu and sneeze in a crowded area, those around you can inhale the particles of your sneeze and get the virus.

The virus can also be transmitted through coming into contact with objects or surfaces, such as a door handle or keyboard, that are coated in these respiratory particles. If you touch a contaminated object and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you may get the flu.

If you already have the flu, there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of passing it to others:

The flu is a highly contagious respiratory infection thats common in the colder months of the year. Once youve encountered the virus, it can take between one and four days to develop symptoms. Once you have the virus, youll be contagious starting about a day before you notice symptoms.

If you want to avoid the flu altogether, the Centers for Disease Control recommends getting the seasonal flu shot as your best bet. Heres a look at the pros and cons of the flu shot.

Read the original:

Flu Facts: Incubation Period and When Its Contagious - Healthline