Iran Reports Flu Deaths as H3N2 Strain Spreads

[Commonground]

DECEMBER 9, 2025

At least seven people died from influenza in Yazd province in one week, and health officials warned the H3N2 strain is spreading rapidly across Iran.

The patients died between November 29 and December 5, mostly among elderly people and those with underlying conditions, state media reported.

Yazd University of Medical Sciences officials said 417 of 850 tests have been positive since Saturday.

Total cases in the province have reached 1,118 this year, with 13 deaths.

In Hormozgan province, at least two people died from the A/H3N2 strain, including a 26-year-old with no underlying health conditions.

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She warned that influenza can quickly cause lung complications and death.

more..https://iranwire.com/en/news/146833-iran-reports-flu-deaths-as-h3n2-strain-spreads/

 

[Commonground]

Iran reports rising flu deaths as hospitals come under strain
1 hour ago

fast-spreading wave of H3N2 influenza has left hospitals across Iran under pressure, with more than 100 deaths reported since mid-November – most involving unvaccinated patients, health authorities said on Thursday.​

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Officials expect the wave to continue into January.

Schools shut as infections climb

Rapid spread among students prompted school closures in late November across several provinces. Authorities in Isfahan said the move was driven by rising infections rather than air pollution.

Concern grew further on December 4 after the confirmed death of a 26-year-old man with no pre-existing conditions. He developed 70-percent lung involvement and acute respiratory distress syndrome within 24 hours. Health officials in the southern Hormozgan province described the case as evidence of “intense viral circulation” and aggressive disease even in low-risk groups.


Pollution amplifies the crisis

The outbreak coincides with severe air pollution in major cities. Specialists say pollutants such as PM2.5 weaken the lungs and suppress immune responses, making people “far more vulnerable” to influenza. Global studies show dirty air can increase hospitalization and mortality from flu by 15 to 30 percent.

Infectious-disease expert Minoo Mohraz warned that influenza is “gradually becoming a pandemic” and could worsen death rates, adding that air pollution has “no immediate solution except staying indoors as much as possible.”

Daily burials in Tehran’s main cemetery have risen from 180 to about 220, Mehdi Babaei of Tehran’s city council said, linking the increase to soaring pollution levels.
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