**Executive Summary**
A high-level review meeting was conducted by the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare on December 2nd, 2025, to assess preparedness measures for the approaching winter influenza season. Surveillance data indicates no unusual surge in respiratory illnesses, and the circulating strains are the usual seasonal variants. A two-day national 'Chintan Shivir on Influenza' will be convened later this month by NCDC to review preparedness and plan the way forward. The Minister has directed completion of reviews of preparedness in all district hospitals and medical colleges within a fortnight.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Monitoring and Preparedness:**
* The Union Health Ministry is closely monitoring respiratory illnesses, including seasonal influenza.
* India is well-prepared to handle respiratory illnesses.
* Surveillance shows no unusual surge in influenza cases.
* **Influenza Trends and Surveillance:**
* India typically experiences two seasonal influenza peaks: August-October (Monsoon Peak) and January-March (Winter Peak).
* Influenza activity remains low, both globally and within India.
* Circulating strains are the usual seasonal variants: H3N2 and Influenza B (Victoria), with a small proportion of H1N1.
* Near real-time surveillance mechanisms, including IDSP's ILI and SARI monitoring network, AI-driven event-based surveillance, and ICMR's sentinel surveillance, are in place.
* **Upcoming Activities and Directives:**
* NCDC will convene a two-day national 'Chintan Shivir on Influenza' later this month.
* Review of influenza preparedness to be completed with all state nodal officers.
* Readiness of all Central Government Hospitals to be ensured.
* Review of preparedness in all district hospitals and Medical Colleges to be completed within the next fortnight.
* An advisory is to be issued to all States and Union Territories.
* Regular mock-drills to be conducted at health facilities.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Nodal Officers**
* **Impact**: Responsible for reviewing influenza preparedness in their respective states.
* **Action Required**: Complete the review of influenza preparedness and ensure the readiness of all Central Government Hospitals.
**District Hospitals and Medical Colleges**
* **Impact**: Responsible for managing and treating influenza cases.
* **Action Required**: Review preparedness measures for influenza in all district hospitals and medical colleges within the next fortnight.
**States and Union Territories**
* **Impact**: Responsible for implementing and overseeing influenza preparedness measures.
* **Action Required**: Issue an advisory to all health facilities regarding influenza preparedness, and conduct regular mock drills.
**Health Facilities**
* **Impact**: Need to be prepared to handle influenza cases effectively.
* **Action Required**: Conduct regular mock drills to test and improve preparedness measures.
Key Entities Referenced
Union Health Ministry: The central ministry responsible for health matters in India, monitoring respiratory illnesses and seasonal influenza.
Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP): A surveillance program providing data and insights into disease activity, including influenza, across India.
National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC): The institution responsible for convening a national 'Chintan Shivir on Influenza' to review influenza preparedness.
Influenza Like Illness (ILI): Part of IDSP’s surveillance mechanisms to monitor respiratory illnesses.
Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI): Part of IDSP’s surveillance mechanisms to monitor respiratory illnesses.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Union Health Minister reviews Preparedness
Measures as Winter Influenza Season
Approaches
Union Health Ministry is closely monitoring the situation of
respiratory illnesses in the Country including Seasonal
Influenza
India well-prepared to handle Respiratory Illnesses,
Surveillance shows no unusual surge
प्रव तथ: 02 DEC 2025 6:30PM by PIB Delhi
In view of the upcoming influenza season coinciding with the winters, a high-level review meeting was
held under the Chairmanship of Union Minister for Health & family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers
Shri JP Nadda. Union Health & Family Welfare Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, Director General
of Health Services (DGHS) Union Health Ministry Dr. Sunita Sharma, Joint Secretary (Public Health)
Smt. Vandana Jain, Director National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Prof. (Dr.) Ranjan Das and
experts from Disaster Management (DM) Cell and Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP),
participated in the meeting.During the meeting at kartavya bhawan 1, Secretary (Health) briefed Union Health Minister that India
typically experiences two seasonal peaks of influenza—during August–October (Monsoon Peak) and
January–March (Winter Peak).
Recalling the significant rise in seasonal influenza cases during 2014–15, Shri Nadda sought an update on
the present situation and enquired whether the currently circulating strains showed any variations from
historical trends.
Officials from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Integrated Disease Surveillance
Programme (IDSP) informed the Minister that influenza activity remains low, both globally and within
India. Surveillance indicates that the circulating strains continue to be the usual seasonal variants—H3N2
and Influenza B (Victoria)—with a small proportion of H1N1. The Minister was also apprised of the near
real-time surveillance mechanisms, including: IDSP’s Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute
Respiratory Illness (SARI) monitoring network, AI-driven event-based surveillance through media
scanning and ICMR’s sentinel surveillance for respiratory pathogens. All systems currently show no signs
of an unusual surge in influenza cases.
Director, NCDC, Prof (Dr.) Ranjan Das also informed that NCDC will convene a two-day national
‘Chintan Shivir on Influenza’ later this month, involving key ministries, departments and state
governments to comprehensively review influenza preparedness and plan the way forward.
Shri Nadda appreciated the preparedness measures underway and asked to review the influenza
preparedness with all state nodal officers and ensure readiness of all Central Government Hospitals. He
directed that review of preparedness in all district hospitals and Medical Colleges to be completed within
the next fortnight. The Minister also advised to issue an advisory to all States and Union Territories in this
regard and asked regular mock-drills to be conducted at the health facilities.
***
SR
HFW- HFM ReviewInfluenza/02nd Dec 2025/1
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