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Concluding that poor routine surveillance has been a major contributor to zika spiraling in Madhya Pradesh, the central government is launching a four-day surveillance and outbreak program for state epidemiologists very soon.
"There will be two training modules on surveillance and investigation. It will not only be zika-specific, but for most communicable diseases," said Dr. BN Chouhan, director of the state health department, who met on Friday .
Because the first case was confirmed by the All Indian Medical Institute (AIIMS), Bhopal, on October 23, 128 zika cases were reported from six districts. The results of 16 samples sent for Friday testing are expected.
"Unlike Rajasthan, where cases have been raised in routine surveillance and intensified measures instituted immediately after the first case, things have been delayed in MPs, because cases have not occurred in routine surveillance," an official said in a statement. of the Union's ministry of health, asking for anonymity.
The Bhopal, Vidisha and Sehore districts reported 122 cases, with Sagar, Raisen and Hoshangabad reporting two cases. A 18-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman who died in the appropriate period tested positive for zika, but their deaths were not documented as zika deaths because they had other more deadly infections and illnesses. The man also suffered from Japanese encephalitis and the woman presented uncontrolled diabetes and sepsis (severe infection of the blood)
State health officials say routine surveillance has been underway since June for all vector-borne diseases, including malaria and dengue. "We have not stepped up surveillance to start homeworking at home and mass testing for zika because there have not been cases of routine follow-up," says Dr. Ajay Baroniya, joint director of the state health department.
There were no delays at state level, he said. "During an epidemic situation, the intensified unit begins with the Center's directive. The central team arrived in Bhopal on October 30 and asked us to step up our surveillance and did so immediately on November 1. If we would be directed earlier, we would have begun accordingly, "Baroniya said.
Manoj Jhalani, mission director, National Health Mission, who visited the state on Tuesday, said: "Teams should have been activated when three cases were reported from different places. There should be better coordination between agencies, as would be health, civic and urban development. "
Sometimes a week is all that is needed for the vector-transmitted diseases to spread, experts say.
Although it also depends on population density, vector control measures should start from the detection of the first case for the maximum benefit. Since zika is a new infection, we need to see how the virus behaves, "said Dr. Neena Valecha, director of the National Malaria Research Institute.
Dr. Sarman Singh, director, Indian Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, said: "Fortunately for us, it is not a virulent virus, at least not the strain that is in circulation. It will die down on its own, The next two or three weeks are critical. "
Date published: 17.11.2018 23:44 IST
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