National Project Officer	:	Dr. Jagvir Singh, Additional Director
Mailing Address	:	IDSP Unit, National Centre for Disease Control, 22-Sham Nath Marg, Delhi - 110 054 E-mail: idsp-npo@nic.in Tel: 011-23932290 Fax: 011-23935530, 23989066
Other officers in the Project	:	Dr. Pradeep Khasnobis, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lata Kapoor, Assistant Director Dr. Megha Khobragade, Assistant Director
Background:
Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) was launched by Hon’ble Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare in November 2004 for a period upto March 2010. The Project has been extended for two years up to March 2012 by Government of India. A Central Surveillance Unit (CSU) at Delhi, State Surveillance Units (SSU) at all State/UT head quarters and District Surveillance Units (DSU) at all Districts in the country have been established.
Objectives:
To strengthen the disease surveillance in the country by establishing a decentralized State based surveillance system for epidemic prone diseases to detect the early warning signals, so that timely and effective public health actions can be initiated in response to health challenges in the country at the Districts, State and National level.
Project Components:
Integration and decentralization of surveillance activities through establishment of surveillance units at Centre, State and District level. Human Resource Development – Training of State Surveillance Officers, District Surveillance Officers, Rapid Response Team and other Medical and Paramedical staff on principles of disease surveillance. Use of Information Communication Technology for collection, collation, compilation, analysis and dissemination of data. Strengthening of public health laboratories.
Data Management:
Under IDSP data is collected on epidemic prone diseases on weekly basis (Monday–Sunday).  The information is collected on three specified reporting formats, namely “S” (suspected cases), “P” (presumptive cases) and “L” (laboratory confirmed cases) filled by Health Workers, Clinicians and Laboratory staff respectively.  The weekly data gives information on the disease trends and seasonality of diseases. Whenever there is a rising trend of illnesses in any area, it is investigated by the Rapid Response Teams (RRT) to diagnose and control the outbreak. Data analysis and actions are being undertaken by respective State/District Surveillance Units. Emphasis is now being laid on reporting of surveillance data from Major Hospitals and also from Infectious Disease Hospitals. IDSP presently receives weekly disease surveillance data from 85% Districts in the country. In the month of December 2010, 72% Districts have reported weekly disease surveillance data.
Outbreak Surveillance & Response:
CSU, IDSP receives disease outbreak reports from the States/UTs on weekly basis. Even NIL weekly reporting is mandated and compilation of disease outbreaks/alerts is done on weekly basis. On an average 10- 20 outbreaks are reported to CSU weekly. A total of 553 outbreaks were reported in 2008 and 799 outbreaks in 2009. In 2010, 983 outbreaks have been reported from January to December 2010 (upto 26th December 2010). Majority of the reported outbreaks were of Acute Diarrhoeal diseases, Food poisoning, Measles etc. In the month of December 2010 (till 26th December 2010) a total of 64 outbreaks were reported; majority of them were Acute Diarrhoeal diseases (34%) Food poisoning (20%) and Viral hepatitis (17%).
Contribution of IDSP in Influenza A H1N1:
Outbreak Monitoring Cell on 24x7 basis has been established at National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for monitoring the situation.  Community, Private Practitioners, Nursing homes and Hospitals have been requested to report to IDSP Call Centre on 1075 (Toll free number) in case of any occurrence of clusters of Influenza like illness in the community. 12 Laboratories are strengthened; out of which 10 laboratories are functional and 2 are in process of strengthening under IDSP; for testing clinical samples of Influenza A H1N1 in different regions of the country. 11 strains have been sequenced at NCDC Laboratory.  State and District RRTs have been alerted to investigate and manage suspected outbreaks.
Media Scanning & Verification Cell:
Media scanning is an important component of surveillance to detect the early warning signals. Media scanning and verification cell daily receives an average of 4-5 media alerts of unusual health events which are detected and verified. A total of 1333 health alerts have been detected since its establishment in July 2008.  In 2010, 423 media alerts were reported from January to December 2010.  A total of 23 media alerts were scanned for any unusual event in the month of December 2010; majority of them were Food poisoning, Measles and Malaria
Information & Communication Technology Network (ICT):
ICT plays an integral and most powerful role in implementing IDSP across the country. One of the important components of the project is data management, analysis and rapid communication in case of outbreaks. Data Centre: National Informatics Centre (NIC) has installed Data Centre Equipment at 776 out of 800 sites. The objective of Data Centre is online data entry for speedy data transmission. Training Centre (NIC): Training Centre Equipments have been installed at 378 out of 400 sites. State to District communication is possible by NICs E-Learning Portal (http://e-learning.nic.in/lms), which has facility in managing live virtual classrooms for training (State/Area specific discussion on disease surveillance activities), e-learning, interactive electronic discussion (Chat rooms, Boards, Mailing Lists) and reviewing and monitoring project related activities. Training Centre (ISRO): Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has installed training centre at 367 out of 400 sites (EDUSAT/VSAT). Call Centre: A 24X7 call centre has been established to receive disease alerts from anywhere across the country on a toll free number 1075; for verification and initiating appropriate public health actions. The call centre has a response mechanism by informing respective health officials at concerned Districts for early response. A total of 1961 calls were received in the month of December 2010 out of which 88 calls were related to Influenza A H1N1. IDSP Portal: The IDSP portal is a one stop portal (www.idsp.nic.in) which has facilities for data entry, view reports, outbreak reporting, data analysis, training modules and resources related to disease surveillance.  56% of Districts reported in the portal in the month of December 2010.
Training:
The Training in IDSP is three-tiered: Master Trainers State and District Surveillance Officers and RRT members are trained at identified 9 National level institutes. The Medical Officers and District Lab Technicians are trained by Master Trainers at State level. Health Workers & Lab Technician/Assistants at peripheral institutions are trained by District officers/Medical Officers at District level. Training of State/District Surveillance Teams has been completed for 28 States/UTs and partially completed in 3 States.  A total of 2255 professionals have completed Training of Trainers (TOT) till December 2010; out of which 517 professionals have completed from Phase III States.   188 professionals have completed the TOT training in partially completed 3 States (Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh). The main focus of training for State level participants is on basics of disease surveillance, concepts of epidemiology and data management, whereas the District training focuses on correct procedures of data collection, compilation and reporting and outbreak response. A need based special two-week Disease Surveillance and Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) have been initiated for the District Surveillance officers. 288 District Surveillance Officers have already been trained in this special 2- week FETP. State Health Societies were requested in May 2010 to recruit technical manpower under IDSP.  258 Epidemiologist, 35 Microbiologists and 17 Entomologists have joined in States and Districts till December 2010.  States has been requested to expedite the filling up the remaining contractual positions at the State/Districts levels.  Induction training to 191 Epidemiologists, 17 Microbiologists and 7 Entomologists has been completed.
Strengthening of Laboratories:
50 priority District laboratories are being strengthened in the country for diagnosis of epidemic prone diseases.  The guidelines and procurement of certain deficient lab equipment were communicated to the States in February 2009.  Till date 18 States i.e. 26 labs have completed the process of procurement.  These labs are also being supported by a trained manpower to manage the lab and an annual grant of Rs 2 lakhs per annum per lab for reagents and consumables. In 9 States funded by World Bank (Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal), a referral lab network is being established by utilizing the existing functional labs in the medical colleges and various other major centers in the States and linking them with adjoining Districts for providing diagnostic services for epidemic prone diseases during outbreaks.  The plan for all 9 States has been finalized through State level meetings and the network is functional in 5 States namely Gujarat, Punjab Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Karnataka.  The network plan is in process of implementation in the remaining 4 States.
Entomological Surveillance on Vector Borne Diseases:
Vector borne diseases like Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Kala-azar etc. are of major public health concern. Every year outbreaks/ epidemics occur in different parts of the country leading to high morbidity and mortality. Entomologists have joined in 17 out of 35 States/UTs. Entomological surveillance and monitoring of vector borne diseases are being carried out by the Entomologists.
Tribal and Social Plan:
Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka are piloting community surveillance as part of the Tribal Action Plan of World Bank. Gujarat has started the tribal action plan (TAP) (community surveillance among tribal communities) in two Taluks of Nizar block of Tapi district. The Gujarat TAP pilot will involve participation of community volunteers, health workers, and NGOs. Tapi DSU is collecting baseline data on epidemic prone diseases and outbreaks so as to implement the TAP in the district. Karnataka and Maharashtra have started working on their TAP pilots in two select blocks each involving community health workers and volunteers. Maharashtra is piloting community surveillance as part of the TAP in Taloda and Akkalkowa blocks of Nandurbar district; and Karnataka in Gundulpet and Kollegal blocks of Chamrajnagar district.
Prevention and Control of Avian/H1N1 Influenza:
A networking model has been developed with 12 laboratories, out of which 10 labs are functional. The Animal Component of Avian Influenza is being looked after by Ministry of Agriculture (Dept. of Animal Husbandry).
Finance:
Budget and Expenditure for IDSP is as under:
Sl. No. Year Budget Estimates (Rs. in crores) Expenditure (Rs. in crores) % of expenditure w.r.t. BE 1 2009-10 48.50 39.95 82.37 2 2010-11 (upto December 2010) 35.00 28.49 81.40
Details of Other Staff:
Dr. Amit B Karad, Epidemiologist Dr. Bisworanjan Dash, Epidemiologist Dr. Pranay Verma, Epidemiologist Dr. Md. Zuber, Epidemiologist Dr. Sanjeev Kr. Saini, Microbiologist Dr. Artee, Microbiologist Mr. Praveen G., Epidemiologist Mr. N. C. Sharma, Senior Technician Mr. Girraj Singh, Technician Mr. Indranil Chakroborty, Consultant (Finance) Mr. Amit Mittal, Consultant (Finance) Ms. Pallavi Luthra, Consultant (IT) Mr. Ajay Kumar, Consultant (IT) Mr. L. D. Madan, Consultant (Procurement) Mr. Prasun Sharma, Statistician-cum-Programmer Ms. Sujata Malhotra, Data Manager Mr. Prem Singh, Accounts Officer Ms. Nidhi Daur, PA to NPO Ms. Dipti Singhal, Data Processing Assistant # Ms. Pushpa Aola, Data Processing Assistant Mr. Mithilesh Kumar Yadav, Data Processing Assistant Ms. Pooja Singh, Data Entry Operator-cum-Office Assitant* Ms. Pooja, Data Entry Operator* Ms. Parminder Kaur, Data Entry Operator
* Detailed at Dte. GHS, MoHFW; # Detailed at Director Office, NCDC