25-30% people with respiratory diseases test Covid+ve: Official

UNION HEALTH SECRETARY RAJESH BHUSHAN HAD ALSO DIRECTED THAT SEVERE RESPIRATORY CASES NEEDED TO BE MONITORED

NEW DELHI: Nearly 25-30% of those with respiratory diseases have tested positive for Covid-19 on average during the pandemic, according to central government officials familiar with the development.

The numbers highlight the need to continue aggressive screening of respiratory disease cases to pick up early signs of a Covid-19 surge, and better disease management

The cases tested were classified as severe acute respiratory infection (Sari)/influenza like illness (ILI). “The conversion has been usually in the range of 25-30% so far, with some states reporting more Covid-19 positives among SARI and ILI cases than others. SARI/ILI monitoring is a part of Covid-19 surveillance and will continue in a robust manner,” said a senior official.

In a recent order to states, Union health secretary, Rajesh Bhushan, also directed that such severe respiratory cases in all health establishments need to be monitored.

“Monitoring of influenza-like illness & SARI cases must be taken up in all health facilities on a regular basis for early warning signals of spread of infection,” wrote Bhushan in his letter.

Preventing clustering through strict monitoring of SARI and ILI cases has always been the government strategy as part of its initial efforts to track an unusual jump in cases in certain pockets.

“When talking about effective surveillance, whole genomic surveillance is the best way to track and contain new and sub variants. And large-scale genomic sequencing can be quickly done when numbers are low. This is just the right time to conduct those studies,” said Dr Navin Kumar, HOD and consultant clinical microbiology and infection control, Manipal Hospitals.