Why in news
A recent Zika case in Pune highlights limitations in diagnosing emerging diseases.
India has identified Zika in multiple states, but lacks robust surveillance.
Similar issues were seen with Nipah virus and avian influenza outbreaks.
Infectious diseases are disorders caused by organisms — such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites.
Many organisms live in and on our bodies.
They're normally harmless or even helpful.
But under certain conditions, some organisms may cause disease.
Reasons for limited diagnostic capabilities:
Lack of approved diagnostic tests for Zika and other emerging diseases.
Reliance on classical symptoms and limited testing during outbreaks.
Delays in releasing virus genomes from outbreaks hinder test development.
Requirement for clinical sample validation for diagnostics slows approval.
Lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic:
India successfully expanded testing infrastructure during the pandemic.
Proposed solutions for improved response:
Decentralize testing facilities to district and sub-district levels.
Develop accessible and affordable diagnostic tests for emerging diseases.
Establish a decentralized system for diagnostics, genomic surveillance, and data sharing.
Leverage the experience from COVID-19 pandemic to improve preparedness.
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