The Union Health Ministry is closely monitoring the current outbreak of H9N2 viruses and clusters of respiratory diseases among children in northern China. In response to concerns expressed by certain media reports on the regional clustering of respiratory ailment cases, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released a press release.
The press statement provided comfort that India faces little risk from the clusters of respiratory illnesses reported from China, as well as from cases of avian influenza. Based on existing data, there appears to have been a rise in respiratory illnesses in China during the past several weeks. The reasons, however, continue to be standard; no uncommon infections or surprising clinical symptoms have been found.
Measures of Preparedness Talked about
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) chaired a recent meeting where preparations against potential human cases of avian influenza in India were discussed. Notably, the conference was called after the WHO was notified in October 2023 of a human case of H9N2 (the influenza virus) in China.
According to the WHO’s comprehensive risk assessment, there is little chance of H9N2 spreading from person to person and a low case fatality rate among documented H9N2 infections in humans. Nonetheless, it has acknowledged the necessity of better cooperation as well as the need for increased surveillance among the human, animal husbandry, and wildlife sectors.
The study also stated that India has demonstrated its readiness for any future public health emergency by addressing such problems with a comprehensive One Health strategy. Health infrastructure has been significantly strengthened, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic.
