Health officials in Kashmir urge caution amidst new COVID variant detection

Srinagar/ Baramulla, Dec 21: Amidst a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and the identification of the first case of the new JN 1 variant in the country, health authorities in Kashmir have urged people to exercise caution while emphasising that there is no need for panic.

The doctors advise those experiencing symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection to undergo testing to determine the type of virus causing the illness.

Directorate of Health Service Kashmir (DHSK) spokesman Dr Mir Mushtaq reassured the people saying, "There is no need to panic. Right now, we get influenza and respiratory syncytial virus patients in good numbers. So a person who has symptoms should get tested to identify which virus has infected him or her. We have facilities available, so testing is the key here to prevent the spread of infection."

Highlighting the preparedness of the health department, Dr Mushtaq emphasised that adequate infrastructure and manpower were in place to handle any situation.

However, he encouraged people to adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to further prevent the spread of the virus.

Senior pulmonologist Dr Naveed Nazir Shah said there was no need to panic over the new COVID-19 variant, which had emerged in several parts of the world.

However, he appealed to people to take precautions like they took during the early variants of COVID-19.

“Precautionary measures will keep people away from all Respiratory Tract Infection (RTI) and other COVID-19 infections," Dr Shah told Greater Kashmir.

He said that the respiratory cases afflicted with infections increase during the winter months in Kashmir.

Notably, amid the fresh global rise in COVID-19 cases, majorly due to the JN 1 COVID sub-variant, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for raising surveillance to tackle the infectious disease.
Also, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Monday issued an advisory to all the states stressing the need for sustained vigilance against COVID-19.

“At this time, we are noticing a surge in cases in some countries like the US and the state of Kerala, where we have observed the presence of the JN 1 variant as well,” Dr Shah said.

He said that although, so far, the patients affected by this strain are experiencing mild diseases, such as a cough or something similar to what we normally see during the flu season.

"We have not encountered any severe cases among the cases detected so far. Therefore, there is currently no alarming situation, and there is no need to panic," Dr Shah said.

He said that the measures to be taken were similar to those taken earlier for controlling COVID-19 as they seem to be effective.

"Currently, there is no indication that the present COVID is causing hospitalisations or deaths. So, there is no need to panic, but it is essential to take precautionary measures," Dr Shah said.

He said these measures include avoiding gatherings, maintaining cough etiquette, and isolating individuals with respiratory infections such as the common cold.

"Winter comes every year, and every year during winters, we see an increase in the number of respiratory infections. We are more susceptible to respiratory diseases, and patients with conditions like bronchitis experience an exacerbation," Dr Shah said. “We have also observed that viral diseases become common during winters, affecting children, the elderly, and young and healthy people alike. The incidents
of infections in all these groups tend to increase during winters.”

About the precautions to be taken at places hosting winter games, the noted pulmonologist said winter is a source of recreation for some people, and winter games are played every year.

"I won't say that these activities should be completely stopped, but taking precautions is crucial. Especially, as we have seen in the case of COVID, measures like maintaining physical distance and avoiding gatherings can provide considerable relief," Dr Shah said.

However, he said that all these things may not be practically possible but individuals with respiratory symptoms should self-isolate so that their effective period of infection passes, and the spread is
controlled.

"Isolating symptomatic individuals can help keep others safe," Dr Shah said.

At the national level, Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant has underscored the importance of remaining vigilant in the fight against the pandemic.

While collaborative efforts between the central and state governments have contributed to a consistent decline in infection rates, the emergence of the new JN 1 variant and the overall increase in COVID-19 cases necessitate sustained efforts.

The Health Ministry released a statement, acknowledging that the virus's behaviour is adapting to Indian weather conditions and the presence of other common pathogens.

Despite India recording 260 new coronavirus infections on Monday, with active cases increasing to 1,828, the Health Ministry aims to address the ongoing public health challenges effectively.

In response to the situation, health officials nationwide are urging citizens to stay informed, follow recommended guidelines, and prioritise testing to curb the spread of the virus.

The government assures the public that collaborative efforts and existing healthcare infrastructure are well-equipped to handle the evolving situation.

“States and UTs have been asked to monitor and report district-wise Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in all health facilities regularly including in the Integrated
Health Information Platform (IHIP) portal, for detecting the early rising trend of cases," reads the statement.

It said that states were advised to ensure adequate testing in all the districts as per COVID-19 testing guidelines and maintain the recommended share of RT-PCR and Antigen tests.

“The states were encouraged to increase the number of RT-PCR tests and send positive samples for genome sequencing to Indian SARS COV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) laboratories to enable timely detection of new variants, if any, in the country,” the statement said. "The states also were asked to promote community awareness to seek their continued support in managing COVID-19, including adherence to respiratory
hygiene."

BY Mukeet Akmali and Syed Rizwan Geelani