Lok Sabha Question No. 5003 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-31
Subject: Research on Viral Diseases by ICMR
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Sangeeta Azad

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5003 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 ST  MARCH, 2023

## RESEARCH ON VIRAL DISEASES BY ICMR

## 5003. SHRIMATI SANGEETA AZAD:

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

(a) the  details  of  the  research  carried  out  by  the  Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research (ICMR) on viral diseases;

- (b) the percentage of success of such research activities; and
- (c) the amount spent on various activities undertaken by ICMR during the last three years and current year, year-wise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a)  to  (c)  :  ICMR  has  been  at  the  forefront  of  virus  research  in  India  with  its  dedicated network  of  Virus  Research  and  Diagnostic  Laboratories  (VRDLs)  and  institutes  like  the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, the National Aids Research Institute (NARI) in Pune,  and  other  Regional  Medical  Research  Institutes  (RMRCs)  across  the  country.  With state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities such as BSL 3 and BSL 4 laboratories, the ICMR conducts  research  on  a  range  of  viruses,  including  HIV,  influenza,  dengue,  chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, and most recently, the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

ICMR  has  also  been  involved  in  the  surveillance,  detection,  and  containment  of  virus outbreaks  such  as  Nipah  virus,  Zika  virus,  Ebola  virus,  canine  distemper  virus,  Kyasanur forest disease virus, monkeypox virus, and recently SARS-CoV-2, etc. The organisation has played a key role in shaping policies related to viral diseases in India, and its research has significantly contributed to the knowledge  and  understanding  of  viral diseases.  The organisation has been instrumental in providing technical support to the virus-related public health programmes in the country.

ICMR has  also been at the forefront to sequence the emerging / re-emerging viral infections. Viruses  like  Nipah  and  Zika  were  sequenced  timely  by  NIV  and  the  evolution  was documented.  NIV's  studies  of  whole  and  partial  genome  sequencing  of  Nipah  virus  from humans and  bats  respectively,  revealed  the  source  of  infection  and  indicted  a  spillover  of infection from bats to humans as both the sequences closely matched. During the COVID-19 outbreak,  NIV  trained  more  than  50  VRDLs  in  whole  genome  sequencing.  Many  of  these laboratories  are  now  affiliated  with  INSACOG.  The  whole  genome  sequencing  capacity established  at  the  VRDLs  under  mentorship  of  NIV,  Pune  will  help  in  strengthening  the capacity of the country in timely detection of new as well as emerging / re-emerging viral infections.

ICMR  has  established  a  pan-respiratory  virus  surveillance  for  simultaneous  detection  of Influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in patients of Influenza Like Illness  (ILI)  and  Sever  Acute  Respiratory  Illness  (SARI).  Weekly  trends  of  circulating Influenza viruses alongwith proportional positivity of different circulating Influenza viruses (AH1N1;  AH3N2;  B  Yamagata;  B  Victoria),  SARS-CoV-2  and  now  RSV  are  captured through  this  network.  The  trends  of  prevailing  respiratory  viruses  have  also  been  made available by ICMR on a public dashboard which can be accessed at: https://influenza.icmr.org.in/public\_dashboard/.

A few examples of achievements resulting from research activities are:

1. Successful isolation and development of a diagnostic kit for Covid-Kawach
2. Development of an Indigenous Vaccine: Covaxin
3. Outbreak investigations on Nipah, Zika, KFD, etc.

The amount spent during the last three years and current year by ICMR is tabulated as under:

|                      | 2019-2020     | 2020-2021      | 2021-2022     | 2022-2023 (as on 29.03.2023)   |
|----------------------|---------------|----------------|---------------|--------------------------------|
| Amount Spent by ICMR | 4847.09 lakhs | 25288.78 lakhs | 6656.23 lakhs | 2210.28 lakhs                  |

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