Zimbabwe has been hit by H3N2 influenza with one person dead while more than 140,000 people affected by the disease circulating all over the country, ZBC News reported on Friday.

Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Director for Epidemiology and Disease Control Dr Portia Manangazira said the upsurge in the number of influenza cases is typical in winter but what is worrying is the number of cases of the H3N2 influenza that have been recorded.

"There has been an upsurge in the number of influenza cases, we have only recorded one death so far. The virus is likely to continue spreading as the cold season is still upon us," said Manangazira.

Manangazira said the recorded figures of the H3N2 influenza cases have been derived from the weekly disease surveillance report that is compiled by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare. The contagious disease has seen some people being severely affected while for others it has been life threatening. Common symptoms of the H3N2 influenza virus include chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness, fatigue and general discomfort.