National Health Mission cautions against rising Covid, influenza cases in nation

In view of the recent spurt in Covid-19 cases in the country, the National Health Mission (NHM) has issued an advisory to health officials and institutions to maintain strict vigil and monitor the situation and take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of this virus and influenza in the state.

The NHM Director has issued directions for ensuring the availability and functional readiness of hospitals with facilities, including beds, oxygen supply, ventilators, oxygen concentrators, PSA plants, antibiotics, essential drugs, consumables and other logistics. He instructed the officials concerned that refresher training for tackling an influenza-like illness and a severe acute respiratory illness to all healthcare workers for ensuring readiness.

As per the advisory, the monitoring of severe acute respiratory illness and influenza-like illness cases should be taken up on a continued basis to ensure that no early warning signals were missed and the spread of the infection could be controlled.

The directions have been issued to ensure that the cases of influenza-like Illness and severe acute respiratory illness were reported in all health facilities (OPD/IPD) on a daily basis via the IHIP-IDSP portal. The confirmed cases of influenza and Covid-19 should also be reported using an appropriate format.