Testing for cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) has been the mainstay of Covid management for the government.
Citing the resurgence of coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia and parts of Europe, the Center has asked states to restart monitoring for flu-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory infections so as not to miss early warning signs and keep Covid under control . Testing for flu-like cases of illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) have been the mainstays of Covid control for the government. However, the tests have recently been halted as India records a steady decline in COVID-19 cases.
As part of intensified surveillance, patients hospitalized with ILI and SARI will be retested for COVID-19 and positive samples will be sent for genome sequencing. In a letter, Health Minister Rajesh Bhushan has asked all Union states and territories to ensure that a sufficient number of samples are submitted to the INSACOG network for timely detection of new Covid variants. and not to slacken vigilance in resuming economic and social activities.
“Effective surveillance by monitoring emerging clusters of new cases as appropriate, standards testing and monitoring of ILI and SARI cases will be performed continuously to ensure no early warning signs are missed and the spread of infection can be reduced.” checked,” Bhushan said in the letter. He further said that the state apparatus must create the required awareness and ensure compliance with Covid-appropriate behavior and implement effective hand and respiratory hygiene.
With a spike in COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia and some countries of Europe, a high-level meeting was chaired by Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on March 16, where states were advised to focus on aggressive genome sequencing, intensify surveillance and overall vigil on the Covid situation, Bhushan said in the letter.
He also emphasized the continued focus on the fivefold strategy of testing, monitoring, treating and vaccinating and adhering to Covid-appropriate behavior.” All states and Union Territories must take all precautions and be vigilant while resuming economic and social activities “It is also vital that states can ensure that all eligible people are motivated to get vaccinated against COVID-19 according to the recent expansion of the vaccination campaign,” he added.
This post Center asks states to re-monitor ILI and SARI cases amid Covid wave in Southeast Asia
was original published at “https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/health/centre-asks-states-to-restart-monitoring-ili-sari-cases-amid-covid-surge-in-southeast-asia/2464752/”
