News Excerpt: 

The Union Health Ministry said it is closely monitoring the reported outbreak of H9N2 cases and clusters of respiratory illness in children in northern China.

About the H9N2 Virus (Avian influenza virus)

H9N2 is a subtype of the influenza A virus that causes both human and bird flu. 

• In 1966, the H9N2 subtype was isolated for the first time in Wisconsin, United States.  
• According to the US National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), H9N2 viruses exist in wild birds worldwide. They are endemic in many areas of poultry in multiple regions of the world, including Asia and the Middle East.
• With avian influenza viruses circulating in poultry, there is a risk of occasional infection and small clusters of human infections due to exposure to diseased birds or contaminated settings, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Infections in Humans 

• Human H9N2 virus infections are uncommon but likely underreported due to the disease's relatively mild symptoms. 
• In Hong Kong, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Egypt, cases of human infection have been reported. In 1998, Hong Kong reported the first incidence worldwide. 
• Since December 2015, 28 instances have been documented in China. Cases are still being reported, primarily from mainland China and Hong Kong.
• Symptoms: According to the World Health Organisation, exposure to the avian influenza virus can lead to infections ranging from mild, flu-like symptoms or eye inflammation to severe, acute respiratory disease or death. 

In India:

• The virus was picked up in February 2019 during a community-based surveillance study in 93 villages of Korku tribes in the Melghat district of Maharashtra.
  

Preventive Measures: 

• According to the WHO, individuals should avoid contact with animals in areas known to be infected with animal influenza viruses, such as farms and settings where live animals may be sold or slaughtered. 
• Maintaining personal and hand hygiene, particularly hand washing with soap before and after animal contact, is essential for avoiding viral infection.
• Vaccine by India: Bhopal-based ICAR-National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) has developed the "Inactivated low pathogenic avian influenza (H9N2) vaccine for chickens".
  • It is the first indigenous vaccine for the H9N2 virus for animals. 
• The Indonesian government has built an effective vaccination strategy against H5N1 and H9N2 strains.

Conclusion:

Despite this subtype's low pathogenicity, the virus's continuing emergence in unpredicted regions and a rise in human cases pose a pandemic threat and the need to adopt a multi-sector One Health approach. The Ministries should embark on a One Health approach to adopt a holistic and integrated roadmap towards addressing such public health issues.