An increase in cases of H3N2 influenza in India is drawing interest from health experts worldwide.
"There has been an uptick in influenza-like illnesses," The Times of India reported March 6. "The major contributory virus is influenza A H3N2 this season."
H3N2 is a subvariant of swine flu, similar to H1N1. Symptoms include possible throat and ear aches, coughing, fever, and fatigue.
H3N2 normally circulates in pigs and can be transmitted to humans through extended exposure to infected animals. According to the CDC, "It's possible that sporadic infections and even localized outbreaks among people with this virus will continue to occur."
Usually, human-to-human spread of the virus is limited. In the U.S., the CDC maintains that "no sustained or community spread of H3N2 has been identified at this time."