Closely monitoring outbreak of H9N2, clusters of respiratory illness in children in China, says Health Ministry

The Health Ministry maintained that India is prepared for any kind of public health exigency.

A woman carries a child as they leave a children’s hospital in Beijing, on November 24, 2023. Chinese officials say they did not detect any “unusual or novel diseases” in the country, the World Health Organization said, following an official request by the U.N. health agency for information about a potentially worrying spike in respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia in children. | Photo Credit: AP

There is low risk to India from both the avian influenza case reported from China as well as the clusters of respiratory illness said the Health Ministry on November 24.

The statement comes following reports indicating clustering of cases of respiratory illness in children in northern China for which World Health Organisation (WHO) has also issued a statement.

The Ministry maintained that it is closely monitoring the reported outbreak of H9N2 cases and clusters of respiratory illness in children in northern China.

It, however, maintained that there is a need for strengthening surveillance among human, animal husbandry and wildlife sectors and improving coordination was recognised.

It maintained that India is prepared for any kind of public health exigency.

The Ministry also noted that based on the currently available information, an increase in incidence of respiratory diseases in China has been reported in the last few weeks.

“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,” said the Ministry in its statement.

The Ministry also informed that a meeting was recently held to discuss the preparedness measures against human cases of Avian Influenza in the country against the backdrop of a human case of H9N2 (Avian influenza virus) in October 2023 in China that was reported to WHO.

“The overall risk assessment by WHO indicates a low probability of human to human spread and low case fatality rate among human cases of H9N2 reported to WHO so far,” it said.

According to a senior Health Ministry official 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) is developing capacities of health systems and institutions across the continuum of care at all levels,” he said.

In addition, India’s surveillance, and detection networks under Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) has experience of dealing with challenging health situations during the COVID-19 pandemic he explained.