A Growing Flu Threat: Iran Faces Rapid H3N2 Spread and Rising Deaths
A week of influenza deaths in Yazd province underscores a widening outbreak, with seven fatalities reported between November 29 and December 5. Health officials say the H3N2 strain is circulating more aggressively across the country, affecting mainly older adults and individuals with preexisting conditions, according to state media.
In Yazd University of Medical Sciences’ latest update, 417 of 850 tested samples returned positive since last Saturday, bringing Yazd’s total confirmed cases for the year to 1,118, alongside 13 deaths.
In Hormozgan province, reports confirm at least two fatalities from A/H3N2, including a 26-year-old without known underlying health issues. Authorities note that more than half of recent tests in Hormozgan were positive, and officials characterize the province’s current phase as active and high-risk.
A source cited by IranWire indicates Tehran’s hospitals have observed a rise in flu patients with severe lung involvement, though no formal public announcements have been issued by health authorities.
North Khorasan Medical Sciences University also reported increasing H3N2 activity in its province, as per Mehr News Agency.
Mino Moharez, an infectious disease expert, says this wave presents greater severity than previous years. She warns that influenza can swiftly lead to lung complications and death if not addressed promptly.
Moharez urges anyone experiencing fever, body aches, cough, and intense headaches to seek medical care without delay and to remain home from work or school to curb transmission. The underlying message is clear: early care and social precautions are crucial to reducing the outbreak’s impact.
