Pakistan Confirms H3N2 “Super Flu” Cases Nationwide
Pakistan mein seasonal flu ke cases mein wazeh izafa dekha ja raha hai, jahan National Institutes of Health (NIH) ne H3N2 influenza strain, jo aam tor par “super flu” ke naam se jani ja rahi hai, ki mojoodgi confirm kar di hai. Health authorities ka kehna hai ke yeh virus zyada tez phailta hai, lekin is ki severity aam flu se zyada nahi hoti agar bar waqt ehtiyat aur ilaaj kiya jaye.
What Is H3N2 and Why Is It Being Called ‘Super Flu’?
H3N2, Influenza A ka aik strain hai jo har saal genetic changes (genetic drift) se guzarta rehta hai. Is saal is ka aik naya version, Sub-clade K, globally report ho raha hai. Doctors ke mutabiq “super flu” ka matlab yeh nahi ke yeh zyada jaanleva hai, balkay is ka spread speed zyada tez hai, khas tor par sard mausam mein.
Rising Influenza Cases Across Pakistan
NIH ke data ke mutabiq, epidemiological weeks 44 se 49 ke darmiyan 340,856 suspected influenza-like illness (ILI) cases report hue hain. Test kiye gaye samples mein se 12% H3N2 positive niklay, jo is baat ka ishara hai ke virus mulk bhar mein circulate kar raha hai.
Health officials ka kehna hai ke yeh numbers winter season ke hawalay se alarming hain, lekin situation abhi control mein hai.
Who Is at Higher Risk of Severe Illness?
NIH advisory ke mutabiq, H3N2 infection zyada khatarnaak ho sakta hai un logon ke liye jo pehle se vulnerable hain. Is mein shamil hain:
- Buzurg afraad
- 5 saal se kam umar bachay
- Pregnent khawateen
- Chronic bimarion ke mareez (asthma, diabetes, heart ya lung disease)
- Immunocompromised log
In groups mein flu mild se severe form mein jaldi tabdeel ho sakta hai, is liye special care zaroori hai.
Symptoms: Flu vs Common Cold
Doctors ke mutabiq, influenza ki alamat aam sardi se zyada achanak aur intense hoti hain. Aksar patients mein:
- Tez bukhar
- Extreme thakan
- Jism mein dard
- Dry cough
- Sar dard
dekhi jati hai. Zyada tar log aik haftay mein behtar ho jate hain, lekin high-risk patients ko delay nahi karna chahiye.
How H3N2 Spreads So Quickly?
H3N2 zyada tar respiratory droplets ke zariye phailta hai, jaise khansi, chheenk ya contaminated surfaces. Band aur hawa na honay wali jaghon, crowded areas aur public transport mein iska risk aur barh jata hai.
Is wajah se winter months mein cases ka surge expect kiya ja raha hai.
NIH Advisory: What Authorities Are Being Told to Do
NIH ne mulk bhar ke health departments ko hidayat di hai ke:
- Influenza surveillance ko strong banaya jaye
- Hospitals OPD aur wards ke liye ready rahen
- Severe cases ke liye early treatment ensure ki jaye
- Public awareness campaigns tez ki jayein
Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) situation ko lagataar monitor kar raha hai.
Why Flu Vaccination Matters This Season?
NIH ne zor diya hai ke seasonal influenza vaccine abhi bhi sab se effective prevention tool hai. Yeh vaccine WHO ki recommended strains ke mutabiq hai aur high-risk logon ke liye khas tor par zaroori hai.
Vaccination se infection ka risk bhi kam hota hai aur severe complications ka chance bhi.
Simple Preventive Measures You Should Follow
NIH advisory ke mutabiq, aam log bhi chand basic ehtiyati steps follow karke flu ke spread ko control kar sakte hain:
- Haathon ko bar bar sabun se dhona
- Khansi ya chheenk ke waqt munh aur naak cover karna
- Bimar honay par rest lena aur bheer se door rehna
- Social distancing aur hygiene ka khayal rakhna
Final Word: Situation Serious but Manageable
NIH ka kehna hai ke agar public cooperation, vaccination aur bar waqt medical care ensure ki jaye, to H3N2 ka current surge manageable reh sakta hai. Afwaahon se bachna aur sirf official health updates par bharosa karna zaroori hai.
Winter season mein thori si ehtiyat aaj, kal bari mushkil se bacha sakti hai.
