Union Health Ministry is keeping a close watch on the Seasonal Influenza situation.
Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses which circulate in all parts of the world, and the cases are seen to increase during certain months globally.
Since the 1st case of Influenza A H1N1 in 2009, every year, India witnesses two peaks of this seasonal influenza : one from Jan to March and other in post monsoon season.
As of now there has been no abnormal alarming rise in cases of seasonal flu in any part of the country.
In view of various reports in media regarding detection of avian influenza virus in cattle and milk in various States of USA, a video conference under the chairmanship of Director General of Health Services was conducted on 28th April 2024 to review the current situation of Seasonal Influenza with the State of Maharashtra in which Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Officers from ICMR Headquarters, ICMR-NIV Pune, CSU IDSP, State Surveillance Unit, District Surveillance Unit, Nashik and Health officials from Malegaon participated. It was informed by the experts that, with use of proper hygienic practices such as boiling of milk, proper cooking of meat at adequate temperature would help in preventing the virus transmission from the product (if the virus is present) to the human beings.
Real time surveillance through countrywide network of labs
A near real time surveillance of cases of Influenza like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) presenting in OPDs and IPDs of health facilities is undertaken by Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) through the ICMR network of laboratories across the country.
Public Health Measures
Guidelines on seasonal Influenza: MOHFW has provided guidelines on categorization of patients, treatment protocol, and guidelines on Ventilatory management to the States/UTs which are also available on the website of the Ministry (www.mohfw.nic.in) and NCDC (ncdc.mohfw.gov.in). MOHFW has also advised the State Governments for vaccination of health care workers dealing with H1N1 cases.

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