'No Need For Alarm': Centre Says Closely Monitoring Situation As China Sees Surge In Respiratory Illnesses

The Centre has said it was closely monitoring the situation and that there was no need for an alarm amid reports of a surge in respiratory illnesses in children in parts of China.

In the wake of a surge in respiratory illnesses in China, the Centre has said it's keeping a close watch on the situation and that there was no need for an alarm. It also directed states and union territories to immediately review preparedness amid the mysterious pneumonia outbreak among children in parts of China.

 

In a statement, the Centre said the Union Health Ministry will review preparedness measures against respiratory illnesses and advised states and Union Territories to immediately review public health and hospital preparedness measures along with the implementation of ‘Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in the context of COVID-19’.

 

The ministry also said the trends of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) would be closely monitored by District and State surveillance. Increase in respiratory illness predominantly due to usual causes like Influenza, Mycoplasma pneumonia, and SARS-CoV-2. The Centre added that there was no need for an alarm and that the Health Ministry is closely monitoring the situation.

"This is noted to be important in view of the ongoing influenza and winter season that results in an increase in respiratory illness cases. The Government of India is closely monitoring the situation and indicated that there is no need for any alarm," it said.

The Union Health Secretary has asked states and UTs to immediately review the readiness in terms of the 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.

According to reports, hospitals in China are overwhelmed with the outbreak of the unexplained and mysterious pneumonia in children and the same has been noticed by the World Health Organisation. The world health body had sought details about the respiratory illness reported in clusters.

 

“On 21 November, media and ProMED reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. It is unclear if these are associated with the overall increase in respiratory infections previously reported by Chinese authorities, or separate events,” it said.