Lok Sabha Question No. 4363 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Children
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Anita Subhadarshini

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4363 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2024

## ACUTE ENCEPHALITIS SYNDROME IN CHILDREN

## 4363. SMT. ANITA SUBHADARSHINI

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

(a) the number of children affected by Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AEC) in the country in the recent month;

(b) if so, the number of deaths, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government has constituted an expert committee to find out the reasons for the spread of AEC; and

(d) the roadmap of the Government to tackle this disease in future?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

- (a) & (b) Presumptive cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) are being reported in the country to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programn (IDSP) through P (Presumptive) form and as per the P form in year 2024 the number of children, aged 0-15, affected by AES is 5407. The State/UT wise number of deaths of children aged 0-15 years is at Annexure1.
- (c) A National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) has been established to assist the State/UT Government for undertaking public health measures and for detailed epidemiological investigation into the outbreak. Experts from IDSP, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) & National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune are part of the NJORT.

(d) Steps taken by Government to prevent the AES outbreak is at Annexure 2.

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4363 FOR 20.12.2024 REGARDING ACUTE ENCEPHALITIS SYNDROME IN CHILDREN

| States/UTs wise Acute Encephalitis Syndrome based on Presumptive Cases& Deaths-2024*-IHIP Portal   | States/UTs wise Acute Encephalitis Syndrome based on Presumptive Cases& Deaths-2024*-IHIP Portal   | States/UTs wise Acute Encephalitis Syndrome based on Presumptive Cases& Deaths-2024*-IHIP Portal   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| s.no                                                                                               | States/UTs                                                                                         | Deaths of Children aged 0 -15 years                                                                |
| 1                                                                                                  | Andaman &Nicobar Islands                                                                           | 0                                                                                                  |
| 2                                                                                                  | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                  |
| 3                                                                                                  | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                  |
| 4                                                                                                  | Assam                                                                                              | 60                                                                                                 |
| 5                                                                                                  | Bihar                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                  |
| 6                                                                                                  | Chandigarh                                                                                         | 0                                                                                                  |
| 7                                                                                                  | Chhattisgarh                                                                                       | 0                                                                                                  |
| 8                                                                                                  | Delhi                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                  |
| 9                                                                                                  | Goa                                                                                                | 0                                                                                                  |
| 10                                                                                                 | Gujarat                                                                                            | 11                                                                                                 |
| 11                                                                                                 | Haryana                                                                                            | 0                                                                                                  |
| 12                                                                                                 | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                  |
| 13                                                                                                 | Jammu And Kashmir                                                                                  | 4                                                                                                  |
| 14                                                                                                 | Jharkhand                                                                                          | 0                                                                                                  |
| 15                                                                                                 | Karnataka                                                                                          | 1                                                                                                  |
| 16                                                                                                 | Kerala                                                                                             | 2                                                                                                  |
| 17                                                                                                 | Ladakh                                                                                             | 0                                                                                                  |
| 18                                                                                                 | Lakshadweep                                                                                        | 0                                                                                                  |
| 19                                                                                                 | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                  |
| 20                                                                                                 | Maharashtra                                                                                        | 0                                                                                                  |
| 21                                                                                                 | Manipur                                                                                            | 0                                                                                                  |
| 22                                                                                                 | Meghalaya                                                                                          | 1                                                                                                  |
| 23                                                                                                 | Mizoram                                                                                            | 0                                                                                                  |
| 24                                                                                                 | Nagaland                                                                                           | 0                                                                                                  |
| 25                                                                                                 | Odisha                                                                                             | 0                                                                                                  |
| 26                                                                                                 | Puducherry                                                                                         | 0                                                                                                  |
| 27                                                                                                 | Punjab                                                                                             | 0                                                                                                  |
| 28                                                                                                 | Rajasthan                                                                                          | 0                                                                                                  |
| 29                                                                                                 | Sikkim                                                                                             | 1                                                                                                  |
| 30                                                                                                 | Tamil Nadu                                                                                         | 1                                                                                                  |
| 31                                                                                                 | Telangana                                                                                          |                                                                                                    |
| 32                                                                                                 | The Dadra And Nagar Haveli And Daman And Diu                                                       | 0                                                                                                  |
| 33                                                                                                 | Tripura                                                                                            | 3                                                                                                  |
| 34                                                                                                 | Uttarakhand                                                                                        | 0                                                                                                  |
| 35                                                                                                 | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                      | 0                                                                                                  |
| 36 West Bengal Grand Total                                                                         | 36 West Bengal Grand Total                                                                         | 85                                                                                                 |
| *Data as one 15/12/2024 from IHIP Portal as on 16-12-2024 time: 4PM                                | *Data as one 15/12/2024 from IHIP Portal as on 16-12-2024 time: 4PM                                | *Data as one 15/12/2024 from IHIP Portal as on 16-12-2024 time: 4PM                                |

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4363 FOR 20.12.2024 REGARDING ACUTE ENCEPHALITIS SYNDROME IN CHILDREN

Steps taken by Government to prevent the AES outbreak is as follows -

-  Surveillance systems in India and neighboring regions are crucial for early detection and response. Under the MoHFW, IDSP is mandated with the surveillance of and response to outbreak prone communicable diseases in the country. IDSP is implemented in all 36 States/UTs. The program is responsible for the surveillance of 40 plus epidemic prone diseases and responding to outbreaks due to these. IDSP plays a crucial role in prompt response and surveillance of emerging and re-emerging disease in the country.
-  National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) has been established to assist the States/UTs to undertake public health measures and for detailed epidemiological investigation into the outbreak.
-  Health rapid response teams and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) & Auxiliary Nurse and Midwifes (ANM) have been trained to conduct active surveillance for early identification of cases.
-  Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities for awareness to prevent and control the spread of disease. If required, House-to-House Interpersonal Communication for direct communication with households to spread awareness and educate them about preventive measures.
-  A joint advisory has been issued by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) & National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC). The purpose of the advisory to ensure proper vector control measures are taken by State Governments. Along with that it provides guidance to the States for ensuring timely referral of suspected AES cases to designated facilities for improving the health outcomes. It also aims to create awareness among the community regarding prevention measures.
-  Public Health Emergency Operation Centre (PHEOC) gets activated to coordinate the activities of the NJORT and provide requisite support to the field teams.