1. India’s Union Health Ministry closely monitors the H9N2 avian influenza outbreak in northern China.
2. Assures low risk to India from reported avian influenza cases and respiratory illness clusters.
3. Prepared for any public health exigency, adopting a One Health approach and strengthening infrastructure.
Beijing, Nov 24: The Union Health Ministry of India is closely monitoring the reported outbreak of H9N2, the avian influenza virus, and clusters of respiratory illness in children in northern China. The health ministry assured that there is low risk to India from both the avian influenza cases reported from China and the clusters of respiratory illness.
India is prepared for any public health exigency, adopting a One Health approach to address such issues comprehensively. The country has strengthened its health infrastructure significantly, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) recently conducted a meeting to discuss preparedness measures against cases of avian influenza in India, considering a human case of H9N2 reported in China in October 2023.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has conducted an overall risk assessment, indicating a low probability of human-to-human spread and a low case fatality rate among reported human cases of H9N2.
The health ministry emphasized the need to strengthen surveillance across human, animal husbandry, and wildlife sectors while improving coordination.
China is grappling with a mysterious pneumonia outbreak affecting schools, overwhelming hospitals with sick children in Beijing and Liaoning province. Concerns among global health experts have risen, leading to the suspension of classes in some schools due to both students and teachers falling ill, reminiscent of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
