Centre sets up surveillance mechanism in the wake of ‘undiagnosed fever’ claiming 15 lives in Gujarat’s Kutch

Government establishes surveillance mechanism to monitor points of entry for disease outbreaks, strengthens health infrastructure, and deploys medical teams.

In the wake of an undiagnosed fever claiming 15 lives in Gujarat's Kutch, the Union Health Ministry has set up a surveillance mechanism to immediately respond to such outbreaks, official sources said on Saturday, September 14, 2024.

They said points of entry such as airports, land ports and seaports are also being monitored for the disease.

The government has established an effective surveillance mechanism through the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), IHIP network, and also through the One Health Mission to immediately respond to any such outbreaks, according to the sources.

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“The ICMR’s network of laboratories will take care of diagnostics and there is enough capability to step up the supply of diagnostic kits if required,” they said.

Under the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), the government has strengthened tertiary care across the country through AIIMS institutes, apart from bolstering emergency services through critical care blocks.

Also, sufficient medical oxygen is available for any such exigency, the sources added.