Union Health Ministry Holds Joint Monitoring Group Meeting Amid Rising Respiratory Illnesses in China.
India Closely Monitoring Situation, Prepared to Address Any Health Challenges.
New Delhi:
In response to reports of rising cases of respiratory illnesses in China over the past few weeks, the Union Health Ministry convened a Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) meeting today, chaired by the Director-General of Health Services (DGHS). The meeting was attended by experts from various health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Disaster Management Cell, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and other key medical bodies like AIIMS, Delhi.
The discussions highlighted that the current surge in respiratory illnesses in China is consistent with the seasonal flu trends, with common pathogens such as the Influenza virus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) being identified. These viruses are already circulating globally, including in India. The Ministry reassured the public that India is closely monitoring the situation through all available channels, and the WHO has been asked to provide timely updates.
India’s surveillance system for Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) remains robust, with no unusual increase in cases reported from ICMR and IDSP data. Additionally, hospital physicians confirmed that the number of respiratory illness cases remains within the expected seasonal variation.
ICMR’s ongoing testing for a variety of respiratory viruses, including RSV and HMPV, has not revealed any concerning rise in infections. As a precautionary measure, ICMR will expand the number of laboratories testing for HMPV and continue to monitor trends throughout the year.
A preparedness drill conducted across the country has shown that India is well-equipped to handle any potential surge in respiratory illnesses. The Ministry emphasized that the country’s health systems and surveillance networks remain vigilant and ready to respond promptly to any emerging health threats.
