Lok Sabha Question No. 1135 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-08
Subject: Prevention of Epidemics
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: ABHISHEK SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1135 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 TH FEBRUARY, 2019

## PREVENTION OF EPIDEM ICS

## 1135. SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has prepared a list of all epidemics that regularly affect some or other parts of the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  the  pre - emptive  measures  taken by  the  Government  t o  reduce  the  toll  caused by  such epidemics and increase the Gov rnment response time;

(c) whether the Government has reviewed the preparedness of the States/ UTs and adequacy of availability of drugs and vaccines to deal with cases of various epidemicsand if so, the details thereof; and

- (d) the further measures being taken by the Government for proper management of epidemics like  bird  flu  and  creation  of health  infrastructure  for  its  early  and  precise detection  and treatment?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ST ATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) &  (b):    Under  the  Integrated  Disease  Surveillance  Programme  (IDSP), district  wise epidemics/ outbreaks are  monitored on a weekly  basis.  According to  the dataobtained  under IDSP , outbreaks of certain diseases , uch as ,Acute diarrheal diseases, food poisoning, Measles, Cholera,  Chickenpox,  Chikungunya,  Dengue,  Influenza  and  other  acute  respiratory  illnes viral  fever , etc.  regularly  affect  some partor  the other  of  the  country.  These  outbreaks  are investigated and timely public health interventions are implemented. The Central G overnment augments the efforts of the State Governments to timely detect and respond to outbreaks .

The IDSP isbeing implemented t hrough the National Centre for Disease Control in all districts  &  States/UTs  with  the  objective  to  detect  and  respond  to  disease  outbreaks epidemic prone diseases. To prevent the spread ofsuch outbreaks, States/UTs are provided with additional man power, training of identified Rapid Response Team (RRT) members for outbreak investigations,  strengthening  of  laboratories  for  detection  of  epidemic  prone  disea equipment for data entry, analysis and data transfer, and provision of funds for operati onalizati n of the Programme.

(c): Government reviews the preparedness and response measures for d iseases with epidemic potential, such as, Seasonal influenza, C hikungunya, Dengue, Ebola and Zika with the concerned State  Governments. Government  also  make  e fforts  to  ensure availability  of  drugs,  vaccine, personal protective equipment and insecticides, etc.

(d) : No  human  case  of  Avian  influenza  (Bird  flu)  has  been  reported  in  India.  However contingency plan is in place for implementation whenever theDepartment of Animal Husbandry issues notification of outbreak of Avian Influenza among birds which, inter - alia, includes:

- i. Central rapid response teams ar e deputed to the affected area.
2. ii.Micropla n is developed and implemented.
- iii. A ctive house to house surveillance is undertaken to detec t human case of avian influenza.
4. iv.National I nstitute of Virology, Pune and National C enter for Disease C ontrol, Delhi are the apex lab oratories to test human samples.
- v. Hospitals, near to epicenter are identified and stren gthened o manage human cases of Avian Influenza.
6. vi.Public awareness is created to reduce hu man exposure to infected birds.
- vii. The health of the animal husbandry staff involved in culling operations is monitore they are provided prophylaxis with drug ose ltamivir.