DIMAPUR — In view of the detection of new
Covid-19 variants in India, the department of Health and Family Welfare
(DoH&FW), Nagaland, has issued an advisory urging citizens to follow
preventive health measures and district health officials to step up
surveillance, testing, and hospital preparedness.
According to the advisory issued on Wednesday, one case of
the NB.1.8.1 variant and four cases of the LF.7 variant have been detected in
the country so far. Both variants are currently classified as Variants under
Monitoring (VUMs) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and are not
considered dangerous at this stage.
However, they have been linked to rising case
numbers in countries such as China and parts of Asia.
In India, the JN.1 variant remains the most common, with
reported symptoms generally mild and hospitalisations remaining low. Based on
WHO assessments, the global health risk from NB.1.8.1 is currently considered
low, it said.
Current symptoms and
preventive measures
As per the advisory, symptoms observed include low-grade
fever, sore throat, nasal congestion, occasional dry cough, headache, fatigue,
gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea in some cases, mild body aches, loss of
taste or smell, and shortness of breath (unless underlying issues exist).
The DoH&FW has reiterated a list of dos and don’ts,
urging people to wear masks in crowded areas, practise hand hygiene, maintain
physical distancing, and avoid public gatherings if symptomatic.
Along with this, the department has advised citizens to stay
informed through official channels and avoid sharing personal items such as
masks or bottles. It also advised citizens not to ignore symptoms and to
consult healthcare workers in case of flu-like symptoms.
Directive to district
health officials
In a separate directive to all Chief Medical Officers
(CMOs), the department highlighted the need for intensified monitoring of
Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI),
given the overlapping symptoms with Covid-19.
CMOs have been directed to ensure regular reporting of ILI
and SARI cases through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and
Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), and to refer adequate samples
for testing of both influenza and Covid-19.
The directive has also called for district health facilities
to assess preparedness in terms of hospital beds, ICU availability, medical
equipment and oxygen supplies, PPE, and staff readiness. It advised
capacity-building for healthcare personnel on updated clinical guidelines and
improving vaccination coverage. It also called for increased testing in the
districts with adequate testing by RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests to reach
standards prescribed by MoHFW.
To limit transmission, CMOs have been instructed to promote
mask-wearing—particularly among healthcare workers and vulnerable
individuals—as well as encourage early testing and reporting of symptoms.
Health authorities have been requested to prioritise these
measures and provide regular updates to the department.
