THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) Yes.
(b) Number of reported cases and deaths due to Leptospirosis during the years 2010-2013 are
given in the annexure.
(c) A pilot project was implemented in the 11th Five Year Plan in the State of Gujarat, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka to prevent morbidity and mortality due to Leptospirosis
in humans. Under this pilot project financial assistance was provided to the States for training
of health personnel, strengthening of diagnostic facilities and carrying out awareness in the
community.
The strategy for prevention and control of Leptospirosis consists of early diagnosis and prompt
treatment, chemoprophylaxis and rodent control. Information, Education and Communication (IEC)
inputs have been disseminated to the endemic States for implementation.
Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) is implemented in all States/UTs with the aim to
detect and respond to outbreaks of epidemic prone diseases. Under IDSP, districts and States
have been strengthened by providing additional manpower, training of identified Rapid Response
Team (RRT) members for outbreak investigations, strengthening of laboratories for detection of
epidemic prone diseases including Leptospirosis, ICT equipment for data entry, analysis and
data transfer, and provision of funds for operationalization.
(d) & (e): Regional Medical Center, Port Blair, under Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),
is the National Leptospirosis Reference Center, which carries out surveillance for Leptospirosis
in Andamans, provides referral services in diagnosis, and conducts research and training related
to Leptospirosis in the country. Due to increasing frequency of cases in other States in
mainland, a Leptospirosis Diagnosis and Research Center has been set up at ICMR’s National
Institute of Epidemiology in October 2012.
