The Union Health Ministry on Friday said it is closely monitoring the outbreak of H9N2 and clusters of respiratory illness in children in northern China. There is a low risk to India from both the avian influenza case reported in China as well as the clusters of respiratory illness, it said. India, the ministry said, is prepared for any kind of exigency that may emerge from the current influenza situation in that country.

Some media reports have indicated the clustering of cases of respiratory illness in children in northern China for which the World Health Organization (WHO) has also issued a statement, it said. Based on available information, an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases in China has been reported in the last few weeks. “The usual causes of respiratory illness in children have been implicated and there has been no identification of an unusual pathogen or any unexpected clinical manifestations,” the ministry said.