The year gone by also has been a reminder that India has not only the threat of Covid infection, but also of other viruses.
The Covid-19 trajectory in India witnessed a sharp increase in March-May 2021. The route saw a substantial and steady decline.
Due to the Government of India's five-pronged strategy of Test-Prevention-Treat-Vaccination and appropriate handling of Covid through a 'whole of government and whole of society' approach, India has managed to contain 32,775 cases per million. 389 deaths per million population have been reported.
A three-tier arrangement of health facilities was created for appropriate management of Covid-19 cases, - Covid Care with isolation beds for mild or pre-symptomatic cases, Dedicated Covid Health Center (DCHC) with oxygen supported isolation beds for moderate cases, and Dedicated Covid Hospital (DCH) with ICU beds for severe cases have been implemented.
As on November 25th 2022, there were a total of 23,988 Covid treatment facilities with 17,93,310 dedicated isolation beds, including 5,15,001 oxygen-supported isolation beds and 1,45,014 ICU beds that also includes 63,850 ventilator beds.
This year has proven that Covid-19 is not a virus to worry about. India witness also cases of monkey Box, tomato flu, black fungus and measles as well as lumpy skin disease in cattle.
"Such type of virus has always been there, but due to the Covid pandemic it has come to the notice prominently. As we are going through the pandemic, the routine health exercise has suffered more or less. Additionally, our immune system has also been compromised due to the pandemic, which is why such viral diseases have come into focus, Doctor said member of the HAG Ministry of Health and Lancet Commission on Covid-19.
The Monkeypox outbreak was first reported in India on July 14th 2022 when Kerala's State Health Minister, reported George the case of suspected importation, which was confirmed by the NIV a few hours later. India is the 10th country in Asia affected by monkeypox and the first country in South Asia.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), apex body for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, conducted the investigation and diagnosis of Monkeypox Virus (MPV).
Also isolated and cultured the MPV. The ICMR also developed the laboratory investigations for Lumpy Skin Disease Virus outbreak to support the regional veterinary diagnostic laboratories.
"Along with Covid, Influenza has been doing the rounds, accounting for almost a sixth of lower respiratory tract infection in parts of India. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is another virus that saw a global increase in cases, and several young children were affected in India too. RSV commonly causes mild self limiting upper respiratory illness in children, turning severe only in very few.
"As correctly predicted earlier by several experts in India, and contrary to some alarmist forecasts elsewhere and also from within the country, children in India did not suffer significant lung disease or deaths from Covid-19," said Dr Rajeev Jayden, Co-chairman, National IMA Covid taskforce.
Dr Jayadevan said that Monkeypox was another virus that created a scare, having quickly spread to multiple countries at once. Although it was commonly reported in African countries in the past decades, this was the first global outbreak.
Tomato flu also created unwarranted anxiety among the lay public in India. A benign, self-limiting illness caused by arbovirus that spreads among children periodically in many countries, the unscientific term Tomato Flu attracted disproportionate attention.
Endemic to India, Dengue virus unfortunately continues its outbreaks, causing fever, body ache and suffering among many, and deaths in a few.
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