NIH issues epidemics alert

Islamabad: The National Institute of Health (NIH) has alerted the relevant authorities and professionals to the possibility of the outbreak of seasonal diseases for effective preparedness.

In the June-September 2021 seasonal awareness and alert letter, the NIH exhibited patterns of high priority communicable diseases including Hepatitis (A and E), Cholera, COVID-19, CCHF, Dengue Fever, Leishmaniasis, Malaria, Measles, Polio and XDR Typhoid.

These diseases are predicted to be on high alert during the said season. It also contains the detailed introduction of diseases, case definitions, infectious agents, modes of transmission, case management, and prevention, it added.

The NIH highlighted national and international public health events like Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (Naegleria fowlery) and heat stroke as national while Ebola Virus Disease may be a threat for any of the country or region in future.

On the basis of the last five-year data, the NIH recommended for all Federal, provincial, and district health departments to keep continuous surveillance on the anticipated seasonal public health threats and take all preventive or curative measures in this context.

Due to the ongoing pandemic situation of COVID-19, its epidemiology, impact, prevention, and control was also elaborated in detail. It said that to facilitate the stakeholders, the requisite technical guidelines and awareness material regarding infectious diseases along with Seasonal Awareness Alert Letter are also available at the NIH website. cxxfxcxc