National Centre for Disease Control

Objectives

1. To strengthen/maintain decentralized laboratory-based IT enabled disease surveillance system for epidemic-prone diseases to monitor disease trends and to detect and respond to outbreaks in early rising phase through trained Rapid Response Team (RRTs).

Programme Components

1. Integration and decentralization of surveillance activities through the establishment of surveillance units at Centre, State and District level.
2. Human Resource Development – Training of State Surveillance Officers, District Surveillance Officers, Rapid Response Team and other Medical and Paramedical staff on principles of disease surveillance.
3. Use of Information Communication Technology for collection, collation, compilation, analysis and dissemination of data.
4. Strengthening of public health laboratories.
5. Inter sectoral Co-ordination for zoonotic diseases.

Data Management

Under IDSP data is collected on epidemic-prone diseases on weekly basis (Monday–Sunday). The information is collected on three specified reporting formats, namely “S” (suspected cases), “P” (presumptive cases) and “L” (laboratory confirmed cases) filled by Health Workers, Clinicians and Laboratory staff respectively. The weekly data gives information on the disease trends and seasonality of diseases.

Whenever there is a rising trend of illnesses in any area, it is investigated by the Rapid Response Teams (RRT) to diagnose and control the outbreak. Data analysis and actions are being undertaken by respective State/District Surveillance Units. In the month of February 2018, about 96% Districts have reported weekly disease surveillance data from districts.

Outbreak Surveillance and Response

CSU, IDSP receives disease outbreak reports from the States/UTs on weekly basis. Even NIL weekly reporting is mandated and compilation of disease outbreaks/alerts is done on weekly basis. On an average 30- 35 outbreaks are reported to CSU weekly. A total of 553 outbreaks were reported in 2008, 799 outbreaks in 2009, 990 outbreaks in 2010, 1675 outbreaks in 2011 and 1584 outbreaks in 2012, 1964 outbreaks in 2013, 1562 outbreaks in 2014, 1935 outbreaks in 2015, 2679 outbreaks reported in 2016 and 1714 outbreaks reported in 2017.

A total of 133 outbreaks reported from 1st January 2018 to 4th February 2018. Majority of outbreaks reported in 2018 were of Measles (28%), Chickenpox (23%), Food Poisoning (14%), Acute Diarrheal Disease (12%), Chikungunya (5%), Influenza-B (3%), Scrub typhus (3%), and Dengue (2%).

Media Scanning and Verification Cell

1. Media scanning is an important component of surveillance to detect the early warning signals. Media scanning and verification cell daily receives an average of 2-3 media alerts of unusual health events which are detected and verified. A total of 4815 health alerts have been detected till 28th February 2018 since its establishment in July 2008. Majority of them were Acute Diarrheal Disease, Measles and Dengue. A total of 35 media alerts were scanned for any unusual from 1st February 2018 till 28th February 2018.
2. The process of establishing Media Scanning and Verification Cells in all 29 States and 7 UTs is being undertaken right now.