Lok Sabha Question No. 1065 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Spread of H1N1 Virus in Kerala
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1065 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 th FEBRUARY, 2020

## SPREAD OF H1N1 VIRUS IN KERALA

## 1065. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

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

- (a) whether the H1N1 virus is causing health concerns to the people of Kozhikode district in Keralafor the last many years, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any study has been conducted on the outbre ak of this virus and the reasons for the intermittent emergence of the virus in this area, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the number of people of this area affected in the last five years and the steps being taken by the Government to eradicate this virus completely?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (c): Cases of seasonal influenza A (H1N1) have been reported from Kozhikode district of Kerala for the last few years. Details for cases and deaths reported from district of Kerala  in last five years and current year are as under:

| Year                   |   Cases |   Deaths |
|------------------------|---------|----------|
| 2015                   |     189 |        5 |
| 2016                   |      10 |        0 |
| 2017                   |     163 |        6 |
| 2018                   |     158 |        6 |
| 2019                   |     114 |        6 |
| 2020 (till 02.02.2020) |       7 |        0 |

A number of studies are being taken up on Influenza by Indian Council of Medic Research (ICMR). These include studies to determine the circulating strains of Influe and B to determine the vaccine composition for India and studies to monitor the emer gence of antiviral resistance to Oseltamivir.

As per the Constitutional provisions, health is a State subject and primary respon of health matters rest with States/UTs. However, the Central Government closely moni the Seasonal Influenza situation, have been in regular touch with the States/UTs on the iss and have taken numerous measures to contain and manage the Seasonal Influenza (H1N1), under:

- During  such  outbreaks,  the  situation  is  regularly  reviewed  and  closely  monitore highest levels in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare including through vi -conferencing with senior State Government functionaries.
- The  situation  of  the  Seasonal  Influenza  is  also  regularly  reviewed  by  the Monitoring  Group  under  the  chairman ship  of  Director  General  of  Health  Service (DGHS). Last meeting JMG was held on 08.01.2020.
- Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  has  provided  guidelines  on  categorization patients, treatment protocol  and guidelines on ventilatory management to the Sta tes/UTs which  are  also  available  on  the  website  of  the  Ministry  ( www.mohfw.nic.in )  and National  Centre  for  Disease  Control  (NCDC)  (ncdc.gov.in).  State  Governments  have also been advised for vaccination of health care workers dealing with H1N1 cases.
- All the States have been advised to complete the procurement of required logisti managing seasonal influenza A (H1N1) from State budget. However, during crisis States, Govt. of India is supplying logistics (drugs, PPE kits, N - 95 face masks). In 2019, Govt.  of  India  supplied  logistics  to  Bihar,  Haryana,  Jammu  &  Kashmir,  Himacha Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Chandigarh.
- Public  Health  Teams  were  deputed  in  2019  to  Rajasthan,  G ujarat,  Punjab,  and Uttarakhand to assess the situation and assist the States in strengthening respons increase in cases.
- Advisory for preparedness to seasonal influenza A (H1N1) was issued time to time. advisory was issued on 06.11.2019 to ma jor affected States.
- Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and its State units have enhanced surveillance  for  Influenza  like  Illness  (ILI)  and  Severe  Acute  Respiratory  Infe (SARI).
- IEC material i.e. infographics on seasonal flu for gen eral public was shared with all the States. The other IEC materials including audio spot is available on MoHFW websi since 2015.

Further,  IDSP assisted  lab  network  of  12  Laboratories  are  providing  laborator support in terms of testing, quality assuranc e, guidance, providing viral transport mediums and  diagnostic  reagents.  The  diagnostic  capacity  has  also  been  strengthened  by  I Council  of  Medical  Research  (ICMR)  through  more  than  41  Virus  Research  Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) to test clinical samp les including 6 labs common to IDSP and ICMR.