Lok Sabha Question No. 2157 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-15
Subject: Cases of H9N2
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Anto  Antony, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Shrirang Appa Barne, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Sudheer Gupta, Prataprao  Jadhav, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2157 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2023

## CASES OFH9N2

## 2157. SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

DR. JAYANTAKUMAR ROY:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPABARNE:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARANAIK:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

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

- a) whether the Government is aware of outbreak of H9N2 virus cases and cluster respiratory illness in children in northern China and monitoring the outbreak and if so, the details of cases reported and symptoms noticed in the country;
- b) the details of steps/measures and risk assessed against human cases of Avian Influenza in the country in the backdrop of H9N2 outbreak, if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to strengthen the health infrastructure in the country since the COVID pandemic; and
- d) whether the Government proposes to set up any monitoring/coordination unit to look into the outbreak of the diseases and for strengthening surveillance among humans, animal husbandries and wild life sectors and if so, the details thereof along with the preventive steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE ( PROF. S. P. SINGH BAGHEL)

(a) to (d) : The World Health Organization (WHO) in its report dated 14 th November, 2023, conveyed that on 7 th November, 2023, the National Health Commission of China has reported a confirmed case of avian Influenza A (H9N2). As per the report shared, in 2023, a total of 7 cases with avian Influenza A (H9N2) (with no deaths) have been reported in China. No clustering or outbreak of avian Influenza A (H9N2) related to this case has been reported by WHO. The overall risk assessment by WHO indicates a low probability of human to human spread and low case fatality rate among human cases of H9N2 reported to WHO so far.

To aid control and containment of avian influenza outbreaks in the community, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued a 'Contingency Plan for Management of Human Cases of Avian Influenza' which provide detailed guidance on surveillance, isolation and quarantine guidelines, testing protocol, Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) protocol, chemoprophylaxis and treatment protocols as well as IEC activities to be undertaken. Similarly, Department of Animal Husbandry has also issued an 'Action Plan for Prevention, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza' which provides guidance on surveillance and outbreak containment measures in animal population.

In terms of disease surveillance in humans, to allow for timely detection of disease outbreaks, disease surveillance activities have been strengthened under Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, under which a decentralized system of outbreak response through trained Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) undertakes requisite public health measures for outbreak control and containment measures. Surveillance for diseases in animal population is similarly undertaken by Department of Animal Husbandry under its Livestock Health & Disease Control scheme.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under National One Health Programme for Prevention and Control of Zoonosis is working to strengthen collaboration between human, animal and wildlife health sectors by facilitating coordination and collaboration in terms of disease surveillance, joint outbreak control and containment activities as well as improving community awareness to promote timely detection and mitigation of outbreak of zoonotic diseases.

Funding support has been provided to States/UTs for health system strengthening to meet any exigency due to public health emergencies like pandemics through National Health Mission (NHM).

During the FY 2020-21, funds to the tune of Rs. 8473.73 crore have been released to the States/UTs towards the India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package (ECRP-I) for health infrastructure strengthening, expansion of laboratory network, surveillance, procurement of medical logistics etc.

Under ECRP-Phase II (FY 2021-22), a sum of Rs. 12,740.22 crore support was provided to States/UTs for ramping up health infrastructure including those in rural, tribal and peri-urban areas closer to the community; providing support for procurement of drugs and diagnostics at district and sub-district levels for management of COVID-19 cases (including pediatric care) and for maintaining a buffer of drugs; expanding access to tele-consultations in all districts. Besides this, States have also been supported in terms of installation of oxygen concentrator plants/ PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption plants) plants.

With the long-term goal to better prepare our country against public health emergencies, Pradhan Mantri - Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) has been launched with the intent to enhance the capacity of primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities/systems and institutes for identifying and managing any new and emerging diseases.

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