Question : Diphtheria Infection

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken note of recurrence of diphtheria bacteria/ infection in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with number of deaths reported, State/UT-wise including Kerala;

(c) whether the Government has ascertained/examined the reserves for the recurrence of diphtheria threat;

(d) if so, the outcome thereon; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to contain and check diphtheria across the country?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)
(a) & (b): Yes, the Government has taken note of the Diphtheria infection in the country. The State/UT-wise, including Kerala, provisional numbers of cases and deaths due to diphtheria during 2015 as reported in the National Health Profile 2016, published by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GoI are annexed.

(c) & (d): Field investigation in states points out two reasons for the occurrence of diphtheria cases in the community. These reasons are:

(a) Occurrence of disease in unimmunized and partially immunized children against diphtheria.
(b) Shift in mean age of occurrence of disease to adolescent population.

(e): The following steps have been taken by the Government to contain and check diphtheria across the country:
• Under Universal Immunization programme (UIP), vaccination against Diphtheria disease is being provided as three primary doses of DPT, Hep B and Hib containing Pentavalent vaccine at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age, followed by two booster doses of DPT vaccine at 16-24 months and 5-6 years of age.
• In order to improve the vaccination coverage, the Government launched Mission Indradhanush to cover all the unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children in the country.
• Government of India is providing performance based incentives to Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) for full and complete immunization and social mobilization to increase immunization coverage.
• Vaccine preventable disease surveillance (VPD) mechanisms exist in the country viz. Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), WHO- VPD Surveillance, that regularly review the disease case status and take necessary steps to control any detected outbreak.