



Mint Explainer: How the 'twin burden' of influenza and air pollution is wreaking havoc on public health
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI : India is witnessing a significant surge in influenza cases, driven by the H3N2 subtype, clinically known to cause more severe infections and higher hospitalizations, according to the latest surveillance data from the country's premier medical research organization, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Taking cognisance of the situation, Union health minister J.P.
Nadda has directed a comprehensive review of preparedness in all district hospitals and medical colleges within the next fortnight. Meanwhile, doctors in northern Indian states, particularly in the national capital region, describe the situation as a public health “havoc", noting that severe air pollution is exacerbating the impact of the viral surge. Mint takes a close look at why this is a matter of concern for the government and the public.
The ICMR data shows a sharp upward trend beginning in late September, when the monsoon begins to withdraw, with positive cases peaking significantly by November. The positivity rate in samples collected from hospitals (severe acute respiratory infections) and community settings (acute respiratory infections) spiked to 12–13% by late November, with weekly positive cases nearing 200 out of approximately 1,600 samples tested per week—a significant jump from the low single-digit positivity rates seen during the monsoon months. While full data for December is still being compiled, the case trajectory entering the month remains steeply upward, showing no immediate signs of plateauing.
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