States Tighten Vigil After Centre's Advisory Amid China's Pneumonia Outbreak

Health department in several states have issued advisory stating to step up health infrastructure following Centre's directive in view of rising cases of pneumonia among children in China.

Several states in India have tightened vigil putting their health infrastructure on alert mode after the Centre issued directives to review readiness in view of a sharp spike in cases of respiratory illness among children in China. 

The health departments in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand have issued an alert directing officials to step up surveillance in their states. 

In a the directive issued by the Centre, the Union Health Ministry advised states to immediately review public health and hospital preparedness such as availability of 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.

Gujarat 

The healthcare infrastructure built during the Covid-19 pandemic was being strengthened in Gujarat, said State health minister Rushikesh Patel on Tuesday. 

"The Indian government and Indian Council of Medical Research have taken the current situation in China seriously. This is a disease akin to pneumonia and the WHO has declared that no one has died due to this disease so far," Patel told reporters in Gandhinagar, as per a PTI report. 

"Since this disease attacks the respiratory system, we are strengthening our healthcare infrastructure which the state and Centre had created during the time of COVID-19 pandemic," he added. 

Rajasthan 

The health department in Rajasthan issued an advisory to all the hospitals and medical colleges in every district of the state to increase surveillance in view of the surge in cases of mycoplasma pneumonia and influenza flu in China.

The health department has asked all the chief medical health officers of districts and principals of medical colleges to conduct effective surveillance in all government and private hospitals, as per a PTI report. 

All arrangements were in place in the state to deal with any eventuality, said Achal Sharma, Superintendent of Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur, the largest state-run hospital in Rajasthan

Karnataka 

Karnataka’s health department has put its healthcare infrastructure on alert mode following the Centre’s direction. An advisory was issued by the state health department urging citizens to be aware of the seasonal flu virus in regard to the same. 

According to the advisory, seasonal flu, a key concern in the advisory, is an infectious disease that typically lasts five to seven days and is known for its low morbidity and mortality rates, reported ANI. 

The advisory also listed do’s and don'ts to avoid any kind of infection. 

Some of the advice included: covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, frequent hand washing, avoiding unnecessary touching of the face, and using face masks in crowded places.

Uttarakhand 

An alert was also issued by the Health Secretary of Uttarakhand which shares a border with China. While there has been no case of child pneumonia reported in the state yet, officials in all districts have been instructed to keep a close vigil at hospitals as a precautionary measure, he said. 

"All the district officers and chief medical officers of the state are been directed to make adequate arrangements for isolation beds/wards, oxygen beds, ICU beds, ventilators, and oxygen cylinders for the treatment of pneumonia and influenza flu patients in their respective districts", read an official statement issued by the Health Secretary, as per an ANI report. 

Himachal Pradesh 

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the situation in the state is under control and there was no need to panic. 

"Our health ministers are taking necessary precautions keeping in mind the spread of a disease (in China) and guidelines will be released...There is no such situation in Himachal as of now but we should take precautions anyway," he said. 

Delhi 

Delhi health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said the directions issued by Centre is a general advisory and that a specific one would be easy for the states to take proper actions. 

"A letter has been sent to all states from the central government in which it's mentioned that in China respiratory infection can be seen in kids which is like influenza, pneumonia and with COVID symptoms...It's a general advisory. I believe if there will be a specific advisory in it then it will be easy for the states to take proper actions," Bharadwaj said.