Andhra Pradesh: Health Group Calls for Strengthened COVID Surveillance Amid Rising Cases

As the COVID-19 tally in Andhra Pradesh reached 49 by July 25, the Praja Arogya Vedika (PAV) has appealed to the state government to adopt a precautionary and science-based approach in managing the situation.

PAV noted that the current case count does not indicate an alarming situation, but emphasised that lessons from previous COVID-19 waves show early preparedness is far more effective than delayed response. The organisation expressed concern that the official tally may not reflect the true extent of community transmission, as widespread screening and testing are no longer being conducted.

Many mild or asymptomatic infections might go undetected until patients require hospital care. In this context, PAV urged the government to strengthen disease surveillance and public health preparedness without creating unnecessary public anxiety.

In a representation submitted to Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, PAV recommended: strengthening risk-based surveillance by monitoring Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases across government and private healthcare facilities; conducting targeted testing among symptomatic individuals, vulnerable populations, and healthcare workers; reviewing the preparedness of government hospitals; and enhancing coordination among district health authorities for early detection and rapid response to any emerging clusters.