No surge in respiratory illness cases in India: Experts
New Delhi, Jan 04, 2025, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Jan 4: There is no surge in respiratory illness cases in the country in the last few weeks other than the expected seasonal variation, experts claimed on Saturday in the wake of rising cases of respiratory illnesses in China in the recent past.
At a Joint Monitoring Group meeting convened here by the Union Health Ministry, it was agreed that the situation in China is not unusual in view of the ongoing flu season.
The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of the Director General of Health Services, an official release said.
Experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Disaster Management Cell, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, National Centre for Disease Control, Indian Council of Medical Research, Emergency Medical Relief Division, and hospitals participated in the meeting.
After detailed discussions and based on the currently available information, it was agreed that the situation in China is not unusual in view of the ongoing flu season.
Later, the Ministry said in a statement that it was closely monitoring the situation in China through all available channels, and the WHO has been requested to share timely updates regarding the situation. "These viruses are already in circulation globally, including India," it said.
A robust surveillance system for Influenza Like Illness and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness for Influenza is already in place in India.