Latest News | Hospitals in Rajasthan Asked to Increase Surveillance in View of Pneumonia Outbreak in China

Jaipur, Nov 27 (PTI) The Rajasthan health department has issued an advisory to district hospitals and medical colleges in the state to increase surveillance in view of a surge in respiratory illnesses in children in northern China.

In a communication to chief medical health officers of districts and principals of medical colleges, the department directed them to conduct effective surveillance in all government and private hospitals.

Also Read | Constitution Day 2023: As India Celebrates Samvidhan Diwas, Take a Look at Fundamental Rights And Duties of Indian Citizens.

Superintendent of Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur Dr Achal Sharma said that all arrangements were in place in the state to deal with any eventuality.

SMS Hospital is the largest state-run hospital in Rajasthan.

Also Read | Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: BSNL Steps in to Provide Landline Phone to Enable Trapped Workers to Talk to Their Families (Watch Videos).

"We have a team of experts and the hospital is fully prepared," Sharma said.

Earlier, the Union Health Ministry had advised states to immediately review public health and hospital preparedness such as availability of beds, drugs and vaccines for influenza, medical oxygen, antibiotics, personal protective equipment, testing kits and reagents, functionality of oxygen plants and ventilators, and infection control practices.

In a statement on Sunday, the ministry said that recently, information shared by the WHO has indicated an increase in respiratory illnesses in northern parts of China. This is predominantly attributed to usual causes such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia and SARS-CoV-2.

"The Government of India is closely monitoring the situation and indicated that there is no need for any alarm," it had stated.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)