Guwahati, March 16: Through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network on a real-time basis, the health department of Assam is keeping a close watch on the evolving Seasonal Influenza situation in Assam.

District surveillance officers under IDSP Network are fully geared to meet this public health challenge in every district of Assam in line with the guidelines formulated by the government of India and ICMR.

Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory tract infection caused by 4 distinct Types- Influenza A, B, C and D belonging to the Orthomyxoviridae family.

Among these types, Influenza A is the most common pathogen for humans and with Influenza A (H1N1)/A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) subtypes being the current seasonal flu viruses.

Globally, influenza cases are typically seen to increase during certain months of the year. India usually witnesses two peaks of seasonal influenza: one from January to March and another one in the post monsoon season. The cases arising from seasonal influenza are expected to decline from March end.

In most of the cases, the disease is self limiting with symptoms of cough and cold, body ache and fever etc. and usually resolves within a week or so.

However potential high risk groups e.g. infants, young children, pregnant women, elderly above the age of 65 years and people with co-morbidities might experience more symptomatic illness requiring hospitalisation also.

Disease transmission is mostly air borne from person-to-person, through large droplets generated by the act of coughing and sneezing.

Other modes of transmission include indirect contact by touching a contaminated object or surface (fomite transmission) and close contact (including hand shaking).