E-Paper
Modi holds review meeting on influenza, Covid cases
Prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting on Covid-19 and influenza to review the country’s response and preparedness to deal with a rising number of cases of influenza and a slight increase in the number of Covid-19 cases.
Prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting on Covid-19 and influenza to review the country’s response and preparedness to deal with a rising number of cases of influenza and a slight increase in the number of Covid-19 cases.
The Prime Minister directed officials to enhance genome sequencing while also emphasising on the need to ensure people strictly adhere to Covid-appropriate behavior, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
In the week ended March 22, India reported a daily average of 888 cases according to the Union health ministry, with a positivity rate of 0.98%.
The numbers are not alarming by themselves and some experts believe that more people are testing themselves because of a flu virus that is going around, and that some of them are testing positive for Covid-19. According to the latest genome sequencing data from INSACOG, the consortium of labs responsible for genome sequencing in India, the dominant strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus doing the rounds now is XBB, which is believed to be highly infectious, but not lethal.
“Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting to assess the Covid-19 and Influenza situation in the country in terms of preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, status of the vaccination campaign, emergence of new Covid-19 variants and Influenza types and their public health implications for the country,” read the PMO statement.
On Wednesday India recorded 1,134 new coronavirus cases and five deaths.
Doctors are more concerned by influenza, which has laid many people low, sometimes for as long as a month, primarily because of their lower immunity following an attack of Covid-19. Flu shots are also not common in India, although doctors have been encouraging people to take an annual one.
During the meeting, the health secretary, Rajesh Bhushan, made a comprehensive presentation covering the global Covid situation .
The prime minister also reviewed the progress made since the last review meeting on December 22, 2022. He was informed that availability and prices of 20 main Covid drugs, 12 other drugs, eight buffer drugs and one influenza drug were being monitored.
The prime minister was apprised on the influenza situation in the country particularly with respect to higher number of cases of H1N1 and H3N2 being noted in last few months.
Modi directed officials to enhance whole genome sequencing of positive samples with the designated INSACOG genome sequencing laboratories.
The prime minister emphasized the need to ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour including wearing of masks in hospital premises by both patients, health professionals, and health workers. He also stressed that wearing of masks is advisable when senior citizens and those with co-morbidities visit crowded areas.
“In my clinical practice, almost all my patients acquired infections by going to large gatherings, flights etc. where there is high potential for exposure. The susceptible population, especially elderly and immunocompromised, should avoid crowded places and take flu vaccine in time,” said Dr GC Khilnani, chairman, PSRI Institute of Pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine.
