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The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
ICMR-NIE study calls for year-round monitoring of respiratory infections
Researchers at the ICMR's National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) in Chennai have highlighted the need for year-round and integrated surveillance of severe acute respiratory infections and influenza-like illness, which are potential threats to public health, to detect early warnings. Study findings This comes in the view of a new public health study, published in 'Discover Health Systems' journal last month, which has revealed key insights into how Tamil Nadu monitors and responds to cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI). The study found that surveillance efforts are stepped up only during outbreaks or specific seasons, even though respiratory viruses circulate throughout the year. The study evaluated the functioning of disease surveillance systems in four districts of the state from 2023 to 2024. Engaging more than 370 stakeholders across 85 healthcare facilities and 23 laboratories, the study found that while Tamil Nadu has built a foundation for respiratory illness surveillance, further improvements are needed to make the system more consistent, routine, and capable of responding to emerging public health threats. "This is the first study of its kind in India that provides evidence-based recommendations to strengthen disease surveillance at all levels," said Dr Rizwan Suliankatchi Abdulkader, the principal investigator of the study, ICMR-NIE. "Tamil Nadu has made significant strides in health surveillance. This report reinforces the importance of year-round, integrated disease monitoring to protect public health," said Dr T S Selva Vinayagam, director of public health and preventive medicine, the Government of Tamil Nadu. The study stated that more than half of the facilities surveyed had systems in place to report ILI/SARI cases, but only 42 per cent regularly collected clinical samples for testing. Besides, relatively few medical personnel had received specific training in identifying and reporting such cases. Need for improved surveillance Testing facilities were mostly concentrated in larger hospitals, with primary and secondary care facilities lacking necessary equipment and resources to conduct tests, Dr Rizwan said. While public health centres widely used the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), the system faced challenges such as inconsistent data entry, multiple overlapping reporting formats, and minimal participation from private hospitals and labs. "The study also noted that surveillance efforts tend to intensify only during outbreaks or specific seasons, even though respiratory viruses circulate throughout the year," Dr Rizwan said. Influenza surveillance remains a seasonal event in Tamil Nadu, the study noted. "With changing ecological conditions, efforts should be made to ensure year-round reporting of cases. Testing for influenza should be prioritised and infrastructure and testing for novel pathogens should be developed," it said. Although guidelines are in place, a gap still exists in awareness amongst the health workers, especially community health workers regarding the importance of influenza surveillance. Structured training should be provided for trainers and there should be mechanisms for regular training of community health workers. Frequent monitoring should be employed and structured feedback should be provided to ensure complete and accurate data for a better understanding of the disease trends. Involvement of the private sector in surveillance activities is evident but partial, the study said. One health approach A 'One Health' approach should be adopted involving other sectors and data-sharing mechanisms should be in place ensuring transparency of data. With the plans already being discussed by the state, we may expect an improvement in surveillance standards for influenza soon, the study said. Surveillance is the key to identifying and detecting health events in the community and it provides the scientific and factual evidence essential for informed decision-making and appropriate public health action, the study found. Study participants identified several measures to improve surveillance, which included scaling up training for healthcare workers and community-level providers, improving digital infrastructure and mobile access to reporting platforms, expanding participation from private hospitals and diagnostic labs and engaging wide range of health workers such as mid-level providers and community volunteers. Tamil Nadu has already taken steps such as introducing the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to streamline sample collection and transport. Plans are also in place to establish a "One Health" secretariat aimed at improving inter-departmental coordination and surveillance of zoonotic diseases, Dr Manoj Murhekar, director of NIE said. These initiatives could boost the state's ability to track influenza and other respiratory threats more effectively, he said. The researchers recommended transitioning from seasonal to continuous surveillance of ILI/SARI. They also suggested boosting laboratory capacity and resources across all levels of care, offering regular refresher training to healthcare providers and establishing structured feedback loops and monitoring systems to improve data quality and reporting accuracy and conducting similar situation analyses across the country. The study was supported by the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The findings aim to guide state-level policy and improve the preparedness for respiratory disease outbreaks, including potential pandemics, said Dr Murhekar. Respiratory infections are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. Globally, in 2021, an estimated 2.18 million deaths occurred due to lower respiratory tract infections (LRI), the study mentioned. Influenza viruses were responsible for more than five million hospitalisations. The Global Burden of Disease study has estimated 98,200 deaths due to influenza globally in 2021. Thirty-six per cent of worldwide deaths due to influenza occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Influenza-associated mortality in India is higher among adults aged 65 years and above and children below five years. The Southeast Asia (SEA) region is considered a 'hotspot' for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, especially those with pandemic potential. The region has witnessed a significant increase in pandemic and epidemic-prone diseases in the last decade such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection (2002-2004), Influenza A H1N1 2009 (Swine Flu), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) infection (2012), and COVID-19 (2020-2023) that have resulted in high morbidity and mortality.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
ICMR-NIE study calls for year-round monitoring of respiratory infections
New Delhi: Researchers at the ICMR 's National Institute of Epidemiology ( NIE ) in Chennai have highlighted the need for year-round and integrated surveillance of severe acute respiratory infections and influenza-like illness, which are potential threats to public health, to detect early warnings. This comes in the view of a new public health study, published in 'Discover Health Systems' journal last month, which has revealed key insights into how Tamil Nadu monitors and responds to cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI). The study found that surveillance efforts are stepped up only during outbreaks or specific seasons, even though respiratory viruses circulate throughout the year. The study evaluated the functioning of disease surveillance systems in four districts of the state from 2023 to 2024. Engaging more than 370 stakeholders across 85 healthcare facilities and 23 laboratories, the study found that while Tamil Nadu has built a foundation for respiratory illness surveillance, further improvements are needed to make the system more consistent, routine, and capable of responding to emerging public health threats. "This is the first study of its kind in India that provides evidence-based recommendations to strengthen disease surveillance at all levels," said Dr Rizwan Suliankatchi Abdulkader, the principal investigator of the study, ICMR-NIE. "Tamil Nadu has made significant strides in health surveillance. This report reinforces the importance of year-round, integrated disease monitoring to protect public health," said Dr T S Selva Vinayagam , director of public health and preventive medicine, the Government of Tamil Nadu. The study stated that more than half of the facilities surveyed had systems in place to report ILI/SARI cases, but only 42 per cent regularly collected clinical samples for testing. Besides, relatively few medical personnel had received specific training in identifying and reporting such cases. Testing facilities were mostly concentrated in larger hospitals, with primary and secondary care facilities lacking necessary equipment and resources to conduct tests, Dr Rizwan said. While public health centres widely used the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), the system faced challenges such as inconsistent data entry, multiple overlapping reporting formats, and minimal participation from private hospitals and labs. "The study also noted that surveillance efforts tend to intensify only during outbreaks or specific seasons, even though respiratory viruses circulate throughout the year," Dr Rizwan said. Influenza surveillance remains a seasonal event in Tamil Nadu, the study noted. "With changing ecological conditions, efforts should be made to ensure year-round reporting of cases. Testing for influenza should be prioritised and infrastructure and testing for novel pathogens should be developed," it said. Although guidelines are in place, a gap still exists in awareness amongst the health workers, especially community health workers regarding the importance of influenza surveillance. Structured training should be provided for trainers and there should be mechanisms for regular training of community health workers. Frequent monitoring should be employed and structured feedback should be provided to ensure complete and accurate data for a better understanding of the disease trends. Involvement of the private sector in surveillance activities is evident but partial, the study said. A 'One Health' approach should be adopted involving other sectors and data-sharing mechanisms should be in place ensuring transparency of data. With the plans already being discussed by the state, we may expect an improvement in surveillance standards for influenza soon, the study said. Surveillance is the key to identifying and detecting health events in the community and it provides the scientific and factual evidence essential for informed decision-making and appropriate public health action, the study found. Study participants identified several measures to improve surveillance, which included scaling up training for healthcare workers and community-level providers, improving digital infrastructure and mobile access to reporting platforms, expanding participation from private hospitals and diagnostic labs and engaging wide range of health workers such as mid-level providers and community volunteers. Tamil Nadu has already taken steps such as introducing the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to streamline sample collection and transport. Plans are also in place to establish a "One Health" secretariat aimed at improving inter-departmental coordination and surveillance of zoonotic diseases, Dr Manoj Murhekar , director of NIE said. These initiatives could boost the state's ability to track influenza and other respiratory threats more effectively, he said. The researchers recommended transitioning from seasonal to continuous surveillance of ILI/SARI. They also suggested boosting laboratory capacity and resources across all levels of care, offering regular refresher training to healthcare providers and establishing structured feedback loops and monitoring systems to improve data quality and reporting accuracy and conducting similar situation analyses across the country. The study was supported by the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The findings aim to guide state-level policy and improve the preparedness for respiratory disease outbreaks, including potential pandemics, said Dr Murhekar. Respiratory infections are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. Globally, in 2021, an estimated 2.18 million deaths occurred due to lower respiratory tract infections (LRI), the study mentioned. Influenza viruses were responsible for more than five million hospitalisations. The Global Burden of Disease study has estimated 98,200 deaths due to influenza globally in 2021. Thirty-six per cent of worldwide deaths due to influenza occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Influenza-associated mortality in India is higher among adults aged 65 years and above and children below five years. The Southeast Asia (SEA) region is considered a 'hotspot' for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, especially those with pandemic potential. The region has witnessed a significant increase in pandemic and epidemic-prone diseases in the last decade such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection (2002- 2004), Influenza A H1N1 2009 ( Swine Flu ), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) infection (2012), and COVID-19 (2020- 2023) that have resulted in high morbidity and mortality.
Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
PMC steps up dengue, chikungunya prevention
The Union Ministry has directed municipal corporations across the country—including the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)—to strengthen surveillance and intensify measures for mosquito control to check dengue and chikungunya cases. Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant health officer, PMC, and head of vector-borne diseases control programme, who was present during the meeting, informed that vector-borne disease prevention and management activities have been initiated from May. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) An inter-ministerial review meeting was held on July 1 and officials from 17 major municipal corporations across nine states participated in the meeting via video conferencing. Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant health officer, PMC, and head of vector-borne diseases control programme, who was present during the meeting, informed that vector-borne disease prevention and management activities have been initiated from May. 'As many as 71,368 mosquito breeding spots have been identified in the city, which includes 33,474 permanent and 37,874 temporary breeding spots,' he said. 'Awareness drives in vulnerable areas, especially slum settlements and construction zones and strengthening of sentinel surveillance have been suggested,' said Dr Dighe. According to PMC health department data, in 2025, as many as 12 dengue and 10 chikungunya cases were reported. In 2024 as many as 382 dengue and 483 chikungunya cases were reported, in 2023, 272 dengue and 40 chikungunya cases were reported, while in 2022, as many as 686 dengue and 105 chikungunya cases were reported. During the meeting, directions were issued to focus on the construction sites and urban poor slums. These locations have been identified as the two most critical breeding grounds for mosquitoes, particularly the Aedes aegypti species, which is known to bite during the daytime and spreads dengue and chikungunya. Besides, strict measures including fogging, spraying, elimination of stagnant water, and regular site inspections were recommended for these areas. The municipal bodies have been instructed to ensure that cases of dengue and chikungunya are daily monitored using the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) platform. 'The ward and zonal medical officers and malaria inspectors have recently undergone training for vector-borne diseases management,' said Dr Dighe. He further informed that to biologically control mosquito larvae, guppy fish—known to feed on mosquito larvae—have been released at 2,518 locations. 'This year, PMC has issued notices to 1244 individuals and establishments found responsible for mosquito breeding. A total fine of ₹1,58,700 was collected, and the breeding spots were eliminated. Besides, to raise public awareness, rallies, poster campaigns, and pamphlet distribution have been done,' said Dr Dighe.
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Pune accounts for 38% of Maha's ILI & SARI cases
Pune has emerged as the worst-affected district in Maharashtra for cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), accounting for over a third of the state's total caseload. However, officials claim that precise reporting is the reason behind this large number of cases. According to official data from the Integrated Health Information Portal (IHIP) of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) of the state health department, Maharashtra recorded a total 142,474 cases of ILI and SARI between January 1 and June 11, 2025 with Pune district alone accounting for 54,371 cases which is approximately 38% of the total cases. During the same period, the state reported 753 cases of SARI, 597 (79%) of which were reported by Pune district alone, officials said. Dr Sachin Desai, Pune district health officer, said that the reason behind the large number of cases is the reporting in Pune district. 'All cases are regularly updated on the portal, and there is no underreporting of cases. However, no deaths have been reported amongst these infected patients,' he said. According to health experts, the large number of cases is worrying and maybe linked to multiple factors such as climate variations, urban density, air quality, and delayed medical intervention. Dr Abhijeet Lodha, physician at Ruby Hall Clinic, said that those with existing co-morbidities and the elderly should regularly take influenza vaccines and infected patients must follow hygiene and use face masks in public places. 'The spikes in respiratory illnesses are often aggravated during seasonal transitions and by rising pollution levels. The monsoon, with its damp and humid conditions, only worsens the situation,' Dr Lodha said. As per data provided by the public health department, Pune district reported the highest number of ILI cases this year followed by Jalgaon with 18,435 cases and Ahilya Nagar with 9,903 cases. Similarly, Pune reported the highest number of SARI cases (597) followed by Solapur (31) and Nagpur (29). A senior health official from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on request of anonymity said, 'The cases have gone up and the surge in cases can be attributed to the pollution and weather change. 'Many people from nearby districts like Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Ahilya Nagar and Kolhapur also come for treatment to Pune which adds to the total number. Besides, there is more awareness among people coming forward to report if they have any symptoms.' Dr Avdhut Bodamwad of Lopmudra Hospital said that more ILI and SARI cases are likely to be reported due to the onset of the monsoon and that citizens should take all precautionary measures and stay safe. 'During the monsoon, temperature variations take place and we can expect an increase in such cases. Considering the current situation in Pune, it is important to differentiate between Covid-19 positive patients and those who are not. Individuals at high risk should get tested immediately if they have any such symptoms and should not attribute it to weather change,' he said.
The Hindu
07-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Nellore reports seven Covid-19 cases, DM&HO intensifies vigilance
The health department on Saturday intensified Covid-19 monitoring and containment measures after seven positive cases were reported in SPSR Nellore district. The District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO) has initiated several measures on the instructions of Director of Public Health and Family Welfare, Andhra Pradesh. The VRDL (Virus Research And Diagnostic Laboratory Network) had conducted 12 RT-PCR tests on the patients at ACSR Government Medical College and General Hospital (GGH) and confirmed six Covid-19 cases in the combined Nellore district on Friday. Later, another case was reportedly found on Saturday. Nellore DM&HO Dr. V. Sujatha said that the department has immediately tested 27 persons who were primary contacts of the patients. Except one, rest of them tested negative. Now, the contacts of the person who tested positive will undergo the tests. All the patients are presently having mild symptoms and are staying at home isolation with good health condition. With the increasing Covid-19 cases across the State and country, the DM&HO has appointed District Surveillance Officer Dr. Bhaskar Singamsetty as a nodal officer to monitor the cases and submit the GGH preparedness assessment data through IHIP (Integrated Health Information Platform) portal. Speaking to The Hindu, Dr. Bhaskar said, 'After Omicron, the individuals were found to be infected with the new Covid-19 subvariants—NB.1.8.1 and LF.7. These are mild variants with symptoms including cough, cold, throat pain and fever for three days. To stop spreading the disease, we have notified guidelines to the public to avoid mass gathering and wear masks.' About 1,000 kits for RAT (Rapid Antigen Tests) were distributed to 80 PHCs in the district. If anyone tested positive, they were immediately moved to the district hospital for the RT-PCR test as it is available only at GGH and few corporate hospitals like Narayana, Apollo and Medicover in the district, he said. The nodal officer further said, 'We are conducting house to house survey for identifying the primary and secondary contacts of the positive patients. We continuously follow-up the patients in home isolation for one week. The alerts were given to all PHCs and UPHCs regarding the influenza patients.' GGH Superintendent Dr. B. S. Naik said that a special ward has been set up with 30 beds for the Covid-19 patients in the pulmonology department having more than 14 doctors and 12 nurses. Apart from this, the GGH is ready to arrange another 40-bed ward for the Covid-19 patients if the number of cases go up.
