NCDC team travels to plague-prone districts in Shimla

To supervise the monitoring of the plague outbreak that occurred in the region in 2002, a team from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Bengaluru, traveled to Rohru. This is a regular visit to keep an eye on the area’s ongoing surveillance operation.

In addition to monitoring, the NCDC team provides the local team with direction and technical assistance to enable efficient monitoring, according to Dr. Rakesh Pratap, Chief Medical Officer, Shimla.

The 2002 plague epidemic that affected certain areas of Rohru was contained by the state administration and the NCDC working together. He said, “Since then, the NCDC, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and state authorities have been continuously monitoring the area.” According to Dr. Pratap, four medical professionals who had received training from the NCDC in plague monitoring were sent to Rohru.

Dr. Pratap recommended people to avoid ill and dead animals as well as wild rodents in order to prevent the plague, particularly in places where there is a higher chance of an outbreak. He went on to say that flea bites in locations where the illness is common should be properly treated, and that rodents should not be let inside of dwellings.