Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government is aware that the people cultivating rice are suffering from Melioidosis disease in many States/UTs and abroad;
(b) if so, the areas where this disease is prevalent in the country; and
(c) the arrangements made by the Government to create awareness for the prevention and treatment of this disease?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a) & (b): Melioidosis is reported to be prevalent in some parts of India. The first indigenous case from India was detected in Mumbai in 1991. Improvement in diagnostic facilities has led to identification of more cases of Melioidosis, primarily along the coastal regions from the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
(c): In April 2019, Government of India launched a CD Alert on Melioidosis, a technical bulletin of the National Centre for Disease Control, to disseminate information on various aspects of Melioidosis to medical fraternity, health administrators and public health professionals. The document can be accessed at https://ncdc.gov.in/WriteReadData/l892s/6530510401565065401.pdf.