H1N1 accounts for 98% of Influenza A cases in India: ICMR chief
The ICMR chief stated that H1N1 accounts for 98% of Influenza A cases in India, emphasizing that there is no cause for panic. Officials noted that the current strain is a familiar seasonal variant and that mass vaccination is not currently required for the general public.
Why it matters
Clear communication from health authorities is vital to prevent public alarm during seasonal influenza outbreaks.
The H1N1 strain accounts for nearly 98% of Influenza A cases currently detected in India, with H3N2 making up only 2-3% of cases, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) director-general Rajiv Bahl said on Tuesday (August 25, 2026).
Amid growing concern over a rise in H1N1 infections in several States, Dr. Bahl said there was “absolutely no cause for panic”, stressing that the virus circulating in the country was the familiar H1N1 pdm09 strain that emerged during the 2009 pandemic and has since become a seasonal influenza virus.
Speaking at a press conference here, he said there was no urgent need for the general population to take the seasonal flu vaccine. People aged above 65 and those who are immunocompromised could discuss vaccination with their doctors, he said.
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