Health Ministry directs states, UTs to monitor cases of influenza-like illness, severe acute respiratory illness
Union health ministry has asked the states and Union Territories (UTs) to closely monitor trends of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI), following reports indicating a surge in respiratory illness among children in northern China.
It also reviewed the preparedness against respiratory illnesses across the country.
Union health secretary Sudhansh Pant advised the states and UTs to “immediately” review public health and hospital preparedness measures, including availability of hospital beds, drugs and vaccines for influenza, medical oxygen, antibiotics, personal protective equipment, testing kits and reagents, functionality of oxygen plants and ventilators, and infection control practices in health facilities.
The health ministry said it is “closely monitoring” the situation and that there is “no need for any alarm”.
States and Union Territories have also been advised to implement ‘Operational guidelines for revised surveillance strategy in the context of Covid-19’ shared earlier this year which provides for integrated surveillance of respiratory pathogens, it said.
They have also been asked to ensure that the spread of ILI and SARI be closely monitored by the district and state surveillance units of Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP), particularly among children and adolescents.
“The data of ILI/SARI is required to be uploaded on IDSP-IHIP portal particularly from the public health institutions including medical college hospitals,” it said.
The health ministry said it has proactively decided to review the preparedness measures against respiratory illnesses, as a matter of abundant caution. This is important, it said, in view of the ongoing influenza and winter season
