Amid the concerns of the new outbreak in China involving the rising respiratory illness among children, the Union Health Ministry has issued a statement saying there is low risk to India from both avian influenza reported in China as well as the clusters of respiratory illness.
"India is prepared for any kind of exigency that may emerge from the current situation," the statement read.
"The usual causes of respiratory illness in children have been implicated and there has been no identification of an unusual pathogen or any unexpected clinical manifestations," the ministry said.
On the backdrop of the avian influenza virus cases reported in China in October, India held a meeting under the Directorate General of Health Services to discuss the preparedness measures and choke out plans to deal with the situation.
"The overall risk assessment by the WHO indicates a low probability of human to human spread and low case fatality rate among human cases of H9N2 reported to the WHO so far. The need for strengthening surveillance among human, animal husbandry and wildlife sectors and improving coordination was recognised. India is prepared for any kind of public health exigency," the ministry added.
The statement also said that India is embarking on a One Health approach to adopt a holistic and integrated roadmap towards solving health issues.
The PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched by the prime minister and it 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 and disasters, the ministry said.
Since mid-October, World Health Organisation (WHO) has been monitoring data from Chinese surveillance systems showing the rising respiratory illnesses in the nation.
