Mitigating the spectre of a COVID-19-like pandemic, the Union Health Ministry declared it as ‘low risk’ after reports of outbreak of respiratory illness in China affecting especially children. The ministry also informed that they are closely monitoring the situation in China, and prepared for any kind of exigency that may emerge from the current situation.

The ministry said that there is low risk to India both from the H9N2 avian influenza case as well as the clusters of respiratory illness in China. The government said that India is prepared for any kind of exigency that may emerge from the situation.

This comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) also requested China to provide detailed information on the increase of respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia among children. 

“Based on the currently available information, an increase in incidence of respiratory diseases in China has been reported in the last few weeks. The usual causes of respiratory illness in children have been implicated and there has been no identification of an unusual pathogen or any unexpected clinical manifestations,” the ministry said. 

The government also held a meeting under the chairmanship of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to discuss the preparedness measures against human cases of avian influenza in the country in the backdrop of a human case of H9N2 in October in China that was reported to WHO. 

The health ministry in the statement said that the “overall risk assessment by World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates a low probability of human to human spread and low case fatality rate among human cases of H9N2 reported to WHO so far.

The ministry also stressed upon the need for strengthening surveillance among human, animal husbandry and wildlife sectors and improving coordination.

As per media reports, China is facing a potential health crisis as a mysterious pneumonia outbreak sweeps through schools, inundating hospitals with sick children. Global health experts are alarmed as Beijing and Liaoning province emerge as epicentres, with paediatric hospitals struggling to cope. The severity has forced the suspension of classes in some schools, mirroring the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, raising concerns about the outbreak’s impact.