Question : Prevention of Epidemics

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

(a) the details of various outbreak of epidemics along with the casualties reported in the country during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(b) the details of funds allocated and utilized to prevent such outbreak of epidemics in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the Government has put in place any early warning system and protocols for the effective management of viral outbreaks in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the number of virology institutes/ laboratories set up and upgraded by the Government for early detection and prevention of such outbreak of epidemics in the country, State/UT/wise; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to set up more number of virology institutes/laboratories in the country, State/UT-wise?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) & (b): The number of viral outbreaks along with the casualties reported in the country during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise is placed at Annexure-I. Details of funds released to the States under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and expenditure reported by States are placed at Annexure-II.
(c): Government of India is implementing the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme in all the States/UTs with the objective to detect and respond to disease outbreaks. Under IDSP, weekly data on total number of cases for epidemic prone diseases including viral diseases is collected at the District level. These data give information on the disease trends and seasonality of diseases. Whenever there is a rising trend of illnesses in any area, the outbreak is investigated and responded to for its prevention and control/containment.
(d) & (e): The list of Viral research & Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) set up by the Government for early detection of viral outbreaks, State/UT-wise, is placed at Annexure-III.

IDSP has strengthened its laboratories for diagnosis of certain viral diseases causing outbreaks. The Indian Council of Medical Research is in the process of establishing more VRDLs in the country for which proposals and Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) have been invited from various State Governments.