Archive · 25 Aug 2026
H1N1 Accounts for 98 Percent of India’s Influenza A Cases
India is checking which flu viruses are spreading among people.
Rajiv Bahl said H1N1 is currently the most common type of Influenza A found in tested cases.
It makes up about 97% to 98% of those Influenza A cases.
H3N2 makes up about 2% to 3%.
Another type, Influenza B from the Victoria lineage, is also present but is less common.
COVID-19 cases were slightly higher earlier but are now going down.
India uses information from states, laboratories, and hospitals to watch for infections.
This helps health officials notice outbreaks and respond quickly.
ICMR Director-General Rajiv Bahl said H1N1 makes up about 97% to 98% of tested Influenza A cases in India.
H3N2 accounts for roughly 2% to 3% of Influenza A cases, according to nationwide surveillance.
Influenza B of the Victoria lineage is also circulating but is not predominant.
COVID-19 cases have declined after being slightly higher earlier, Bahl said.
India’s surveillance system combines IHIP and NCDC reporting with ICMR monitoring across 73 laboratories or hospitals.
- Who
- ICMR Director-General Rajiv Bahl and India’s disease-surveillance agencies.
- What
- H1N1 accounts for about 97% to 98% of tested Influenza A cases in India, while H3N2 accounts for about 2% to 3%.
- When
- Tuesday, when Rajiv Bahl addressed a press conference.
- Where
- New Delhi, with surveillance covering India nationwide.
- Why
- India is monitoring circulating respiratory viruses to identify rising infections and trigger outbreak responses.
- Dominant strain
- H1N1
- Share of Influenza A cases
- About 97% to 98%
- H3N2 share
- About 2% to 3%
- Other influenza detected
- Influenza B of the Victoria lineage
- ICMR surveillance coverage
- 73 laboratories or hospitals across India
- COVID-19 trend
- Cases are on a declining trend
- Surveillance systems
- Integrated Health Information Platform, National Centre for Disease Control, and ICMR hospital-based sampling