Latest news with #StateSurveillanceUnit
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
COVID-19: T.N. health officers told to ensure early detection, reporting of ILI and SARI cases
With cases of COVID-19 being reported in various parts of the country, health officers have been told to step up disease surveillance and implement proactive measures to ensure early detection, reporting, and response to cases of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI). The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, in a communication to district, city, and municipal health officers, said that recent reports indicate a resurgence of COVID-19 cases across various parts of the country, with a noticeable increase in several States, including Tamil Nadu, during May. District Surveillance Units should ensure consistent daily monitoring and reporting of ILI and SARI cases from all healthcare facilities in their jurisdictions. They should report any unusual clustering of cases, without delay, to the State Surveillance Unit to enable timely public health response. Once clusters are identified, close monitoring should be maintained and necessary follow-up actions must be carried out in coordination with field-level teams and Primary Health Centres. The directorate has said that all healthcare facilities must verify the availability of essential medical supplies, including antiviral drugs such as Oseltamivir and necessary diagnostic consumables for managing ILI. They should also assess and ensure sufficient bed capacity in fever wards, with contingency plans to accommodate any surge in patient numbers. Field staff should be mobilised to promote public health messages within communities. This includes promoting hand hygiene, encouraging wearing masks in crowded places to reduce transmission, and maintaining cough etiquette and a safe distance from individuals showing symptoms of respiratory illness. They should urge individuals to seek medical care early in case of symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, or body pain. They should also reinforce the need for seasonal influenza vaccination, particularly among high-risk groups. The staff should advise regular cleaning of commonly touched surfaces such as phones, door handles, and light switches. The officers were told to instruct all health institutions in their administrative control to report all ILI/SARI cases on the Integrated Health Information Platform portal without fail.
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Business Standard
24-05-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Govt issues fresh Covid advisory; Delhi hospitals told to test, train staff
In view of the recent spike in Covid-19 cases, the Directorate General of Health Services has issued a fresh advisory instructing all government and private hospitals to step up preparedness. The advisory urges enhanced vigilance and readiness in the national capital's healthcare infrastructure. Key measures outlined in the advisory The advisory, approved by the competent authority and signed by the Special Secretary (Health and Family Welfare), lists several steps to be followed by medical directors, superintendents, and hospital administrators. >Hospital preparedness: Ensure the availability and functioning of essential equipment such as beds, ventilators, Bi-Pap machines, oxygen supplies, antibiotics, and vaccines. 'All the equipment such as Ventilators, Bi-Pap, Oxygen Concentrators, PSA etc. are in functional condition,' the advisory said. >Staff training: Conduct refresher training of dedicated staff to handle Covid-19 cases. >Genome sequencing: All positive Covid-19 samples must be sent to Lok Nayak Hospital for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to detect new variants. The advisory stresses the need for 'timely detection of new variants, if any, and share the number of samples sent for WGS with the State Surveillance Unit". >Testing guidelines: Adequate testing for ILI and SARI cases should be ensured, with at least 5 per cent of ILI cases undergoing Covid testing. >Respiratory etiquette: Hospitals are directed to enforce mask-wearing protocols and general respiratory hygiene. 'Respiratory etiquettes are being followed, including wearing mask in hospital premises/health facilities,' the order said. NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 subvariants found in India India has identified one case of the Covid-19 subvariant NB.1.8.1 and four cases of the LF.7 subvariant, according to information from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). As of May 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has categorised both LF.7 and NB.1.8 under the "Variants Under Monitoring" list. These variants are not yet labelled as Variants of Concern or Variants of Interest. However, they are believed to be contributing to the surge in Covid-19 infections reported in China and other parts of Asia. Despite the emergence of these new strains, JN.1 continues to be the most prevalent Covid-19 variant in the country, accounting for 53 per cent of the samples tested. BA.2 makes up 26 per cent, followed by other Omicron subvariants comprising the remaining 20 per cent. Delhi-NCR registers 27 Covid-19 cases The Delhi-NCR region has reported 27 new Covid-19 cases, prompting a ramp-up in surveillance and readiness by health authorities in the capital and surrounding areas. Delhi alone accounted for 23 of these new cases as of Thursday, according to state Health Minister Pankaj Singh. In response, the Delhi government has issued an advisory instructing hospitals to ensure the availability of beds, oxygen supplies, medicines, and vaccines. Meanwhile, Ghaziabad recorded four new infections, all located in the trans-Hindon area. As of May 19, India had 257 active Covid-19 cases — an increase of 164 within a week — prompting hospitals, both public and private, to reintroduce precautionary measures and prepare for potential surges. (With agency inputs)
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Delhi hospitals told to step up Covid-19 prep
The Delhi government on Friday issued an advisory instructing all hospitals in the city — both public and private — to step up preparedness as a precautionary measure in response to a recent rise in Covid-19 cases in some parts of the country. The advisory calls for ensuring the availability of hospital beds, oxygen, medicines, and vaccines. To be sure, there has been no notable spike in infections in the Capital so far, with just 23 new cases reported over the last 10 days, according to official data. As of May 19, Delhi had only five active Covid-19 cases, underscoring the minimal prevalence of the virus in the region this year. Still, Friday's advisory urged all hospitals to enhance preparedness to deal with the possibility of an upsurge of infections. It stressed on the urgent need to ensure the availability of hospital beds, oxygen supplies, essential medicines, and vaccines. It also asked hospitals to take 'immediate action,' including conducting refresher training for dedicated Covid-19 staff and ensuring all life-saving equipment such as ventilators, BiPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, and PSA units are functional and ready for use. This latest directive comes amid reports of a surge in Covid-19 cases in countries like Singapore and Hong Kong. While India's overall Covid situation remains under control, senior officials from the Union ministry of health and family welfare held a meeting with technical experts earlier this week to review the situation nationally. Delhi has largely seen low Covid-19 activity through 2024. The last significant advisory was issued in March 2023, when cases rose to around 300—the first such uptick since August 2022. At the time, the then health minister had urged residents not to panic. The current advisory also directs all hospitals and health facilities to report Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases daily through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP). Confirmed cases of Covid-19 or influenza are to be reported under the L form on the same portal. Hospitals must also update all relevant parameters on the Delhi state health data management portal daily. 'Send all positive COVID-19 samples for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to LokNayak hospital so as to enable timely detection of new variants, if any and share the number of samples sent for WGS with the State Surveillance Unit,' the order reads. In addition, all positive Covid-19 samples must be sent to Lok Nayak Hospital for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to enable timely detection of new variants. The number of samples sent for sequencing should also be shared with the State Surveillance Unit. The advisory reiterates the importance of basic preventive measures and mandates that respiratory etiquette, including mask-wearing within hospital premises, must be strictly enforced. The Delhi government has called for strict compliance with the advisory to ensure that the city's healthcare infrastructure remains ready to respond swiftly to any potential surge in Covid-19 cases.
