Health Ministry reviews preparedness on Seasonal Influenza (H1N1)

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New Delhi : Preeti Sudan, Secretary (MoHFW), at a high powered meeting with senior officers of the Health Ministry, reviewed the state of preparedness and action taken to deal with H1N1 influenza cases here on February 6, 2019. Additional Secretary (Health) Sanjeeva Kumar, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr S Reddy, Directors and Senior Officials from NCDC and representatives from EMR were also present at the meeting.

Seasonal influenza is a respiratory viral infection with seasonal occurrences every year. In 2019 till February 3, total  6,701 cases and 226 deaths have been reported in country. Majority of cases have been reported from 11 states and majority of deaths have been reported from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Punjab. Deaths have been in seen more in persons having co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension etc.

MoHFW deputed a Public Health Team to Rajasthan to assess the situation and assist the state in strengthening response to the increase in cases. The Health Secretary has sent additional teams to Gujarat and Punjab to assist the states in outbreak response. Regular review is being done on daily basis at the highest level.

Oseltamivir is the drug recommended by WHO. The drug is made available through the Public Health System free of cost. Oseltamivir was also made available under Schedule H1 by the Government of India(GOI) so that the drugs are readily available to those needing it. Drug controller general of India has been asked to coordinate with drug manufacturers and monitor the drug availability in various states.

All the States have been advised to complete the procurement of required logistics for managing seasonal influenza A (H1N1) from State budget. However, during crisis in States, the GOI is supplying logistics (drugs, PPE kits, N-95 face masks). Currently in 2019, the GOI has supplied the logistics to Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu (J&K), Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and Punjab, according to a PIB release.