NEW DELHI: Amid the emerging number of flu cases across the country and a slight increase in the positive rate of Covid-19, the union’s fitness secretary, Rajesh Bhushan, on Saturday ordered all union states and territories to closely monitor the trend of influenza-like illnesses. severe acute respiratory disease (ILI/SARS) and SARS-CoV-2 while ensuring a sufficiently good source of medicines, medical devices and medical oxygen in hospitals.
Bhushan also urged the state government to adopt a vaccination policy against covid-19 and influenza.
“In light of the upward trend in other influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory illnesses (ILI/SARIs) observed in some states/UTs across the country, a review assembly was recently held under the leadership of member (Health), NITI Aayog to review the existing situation. While the trajectory of covid-19 has slowed in recent months, the slow accumulation of covid-19 verification positivity in some states is a worrying factor that needs to be resolved quickly,” Bhushan said in a notified letter. through mint.
The minister added: “It remains mandatory to remain vigilant and in a five-pronged strategy of testing-track-treatment-vaccination and respect for the habit appropriate to covid. “
While influenza is an annual seasonal occurrence, in the existing season, a variety of weather situations and behavioral reasons (such as poor hygiene and sneezing, coughing without good coverage nearby) make the environment conducive to the flow of a number of respiratory pathogens. viruses such as influenza A (H1N1, H3N2, etc. ), adenovirus, etc.
To restrict the transmission of those diseases, the network should be taught about breathing and hand hygiene, immediately report symptoms and restrict contact with others with respiratory illnesses, he said.
“In terms of public fitness actions, state/district Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDPS) sets largely monitor the trend of AIRS/ILI cases and submit a sufficient number of samples for influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and adenovirus testing,” Bhushan said.
H3N2 flu is the main subtype among samples tested for influenza since the beginning of this year and a leading cause of respiratory illnesses in India, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). However, the prevalence of H1N1 influenza (swine flu) is also observed in some parts of the country.
This year, H3N2 has a widespread circulation, surpassing the figures of covid-19 and has irritated thousands of people in the country.
As of March 9, a total of 3,038 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza subtypes in addition to H3N2 have been reported, according to the latest data from the Integrated Program for Disease Surveillance (IDSP) network. While 1245 cases were reported in January, 1,307 and 486 cases were reported in February and March, respectively.
As of February, 955 cases of H1N1. La majority of H1N1 cases have been reported in Tamil Nadu (545), Maharashtra (170), Gujarat (74), Kerala (42) and Punjab (28).
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