Centre rushes medical teams to Malappuram, Ahmedabad, Ranchi as Measles cases surge

The Union Health Ministry has decided to rush three high-level multi-disciplinary teams to Ranchi (Jharkhand), Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and Malappuram (Kerala) to take stock of the surge in cases of Measles, according to an official statement issued today.

The 3-member teams will assist the State Health Authorities in instituting public health measures and facilitate operationalisation of requisite control and containment measures, the statement explained.

The teams will also undertake field visits to investigate the outbreak and assist the State Health Departments in protocols to manage the increasing cases of Measles being reported in the three cities. The teams will also coordinate with the States for ensuring active case search in the area and with VRDLs for testing of the identified cases.

The Central team to Ranchi comprises experts drawn from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi. Experts from PHO, Mumbai, Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, New Delhi and Regional Office of Health and Family Welfare, Ahmedabad will comprise the Central team for Ahmedabad. The team to Malappuram will consist of experts from RoHFW, Thiruvananthapuram, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry and Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi.

Senior Regional Director, RoHFW, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Kerala will coordinate with the respective teams regarding their visits.