Indian exporters cautiously watching respiratory illness in China; say cause of concern if spreads more
They said that the present situation is not alarming but if the illness spreads to other parts of the globe, it will have an impact on world trade as China is a hub of global manufacturing and exports.
The government on November 24 stated that India is prepared for any kind of exigency that may emerge from the current influenza situation in China and it is monitoring the outbreak of H9N2 and clusters of respiratory illness in children in that country.
There is a low risk to India from the avian influenza, H9N2, cases reported in China as well as the clusters of respiratory illness, the Union health ministry has said.
Some media reports indicated a clustering of cases of respiratory illness in children in northern China for which the World Health Organization (WHO) has also issued a statement.
Leading leather exporter and Farida Group Chairman Rafeeq Ahmed said: “We are cautiously watching the situation. If the diseases spread, it will have an impact on trade”.
Sharing similar views, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said: “We are definitely concerned and most of the things depend on its spread.
The next 5-6 days will be crucial”.
He added that China is the major economy of the world and at present the global economic slowdown is already impacting exporters and importers.
“If it spreads to more areas, then there will be a problem," Sahai said.
Mumbai-based exporter Khalid Khan also said that during the Covid pandemic, the global supply chain was disrupted and if the current diseases in China spread again, it can again hit the chain.
“We are watching the situation closely. At present there should not be any panic,” Khan said.
Ludhiana-based engineering exporter S C
