‘Low Risk To India’: Govt On Outbreak Of H9N2, Clusters Of Respiratory Illness In China

Both the avian influenza case reported from China and the clusters of respiratory sickness pose little risk to India, as per the Health Ministry.

The Union Health Ministry is keeping a careful eye on the suspected H9N2 outbreak and clusters of respiratory disease among youngsters in northern China, according to an official statement, news agency ANI reported. Both the avian influenza case reported from China and the clusters of respiratory sickness pose little risk to India, as per the Health Ministry. According to current data, there has been an upsurge in the prevalence of respiratory ailments in China in recent weeks. The normal causes of children respiratory disease have been implicated, and no unique pathogens or clinical symptoms have been identified.

A meeting was recently conducted under the Chairmanship of the DGHS to review the country's readiness measures for cases of Avian Influenza in the context of a H9N2 (Avian influenza virus) cases in China that was reported to WHO in October 2023, as per the statement. WHO's overall risk assessment suggests a low chance of human-to-human transmission and a low case fatality rate among H9N2 cases reported to WHO thus far.  

The necessity for increased surveillance and cooperation across the human, animal husbandry, and wild life sectors was highlighted. 

"India is prepared for any kind of public health exigency. India is embarking on a One Health approach to adopt a holistic and integrated roadmap towards addressing such public health issues. There has also been a significant strengthening of health infrastructure especially since the COVID pandemic. PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister which is developing capacities of health systems and institutions across the continuum of care at all levels, primary, secondary and tertiary, to prepare health systems in responding effectively to the current and future pandemics /disasters. In addition, India’s surveillance and detection networks under Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) have rich experience of dealing with challenging health situations during the COVID-19 pandemic," reads the official statement.