India monitoring China ‘pneumonia outbreak’, risk low

India monitoring China ‘pneumonia outbreak’, risk low
New Delhi: Risk to India from both China’s avian influenza and ‘pneumonia-like’ respiratory illness among children is low, the health ministry said on Friday.

The Union health ministry is closely monitoring the new outbreak reported in China resulting in respiratory illness among children. There is a low risk to India from both avian influenza as well as clusters of respiratory illness, the ministry said in a statement. “India is prepared for any kind of exigency that may emerge from the current situation,” the statement read.

The ministry took note of the media reports of a cluster outbreak of respiratory illness in children in northern China for which WHO has also issued a statement, and said India is prepared for any kind of exigency. “Based on the currently available information, an increase in incidence of respiratory diseases in China has been reported in the last few weeks. The usual causes of respiratory illness in children have been implicated and there has been no identification of an unusual pathogen or any unexpected clinical manfestation,” the health ministry said.