Early detection and treatment are essential to prevent severe complications, with health experts emphasizing prompt medical attention for symptoms like persistent high fever or difficulty breathing.

Preventive measures include annual flu vaccinations, frequent hand-washing, mask-wearing, avoiding crowds, maintaining good nutrition, and staying home when sick, while treatment mainly involves symptom management and antivirals for serious cases.

Patients are experiencing more intense symptoms this year, and the virus spreads easily through respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces, with crowded places heightening transmission risks.

H3N2's ability to evolve, including extending its receptor-binding site, has increased its transmissibility and capacity to evade immunity, prompting ongoing monitoring by WHO and scientists.

The H3N2 subtype of Influenza A has become the dominant strain in northern India, particularly in Delhi and surrounding areas, leading to a significant surge in cases this season.

This increase is reflected in about 69% of households reporting flu-like symptoms, with more severe symptoms observed compared to previous years.

H3N2 causes symptoms such as high fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pains, fatigue, and headaches, with some cases developing serious complications like pneumonia, especially among vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses.

People experiencing severe symptoms such as persistent high fever, difficulty breathing, or chest pain are advised to seek immediate medical care, especially vulnerable populations like children and older adults.

Although the immediate risk of a pandemic remains low, health officials remain vigilant due to the virus's rapid mutation potential, which could increase transmissibility or resistance to immunity.

H3N2's long-term evolution since the 1968 pandemic has resulted in variants that are more transmissible and capable of immune evasion, driven by continual genetic adaptation.