Ahead of the monsoon season, the Union Health Ministry announced on Monday that it is closely monitoring the situation of seasonal influenza across various States and Union Territories through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network in real-time.

According to a release from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), young children and elderly individuals with underlying health conditions are the most vulnerable groups concerning seasonal influenza. However, the ministry assured that there hasn’t been any abnormal or alarming increase in cases of seasonal flu reported from any part of the country so far.

Following a video conference with officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and experts regarding the detection of a virus in US cattle and milk, the Union Health Ministry emphasized the importance of maintaining good hygiene to prevent the spread of viruses.

In response to media reports regarding the detection of avian influenza virus in cattle and milk in several parts of the United States, the Director General of Health Services conducted a video conference on April 28.

The Health Ministry also revealed plans for real-time surveillance of influenza-like illness cases through a nationwide network of laboratories under ICMR. 

Guidelines on seasonal influenza, including patient categorization, treatment protocols, and guidelines on ventilatory management, have been provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) for States and Union Territories. These guidelines are available on the websites of the Ministry (www.mohfw.nic.in) and NCDC (ncdc.mohfw.gov.in).

Furthermore, MOHFW has advised state governments to vaccinate healthcare workers dealing with H1N1 cases.