Ever since its inception, Manipal Centre for Virus Research (MCVR) has been a stalwart in its endeavours to contribute to better public health. In the year 2013, in a bid to further the same, MCVR collaborated with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta and respective State Health Departments, initiating the Hospital Based Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) Surveillance in India, under the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA).

 

Using the AFI Surveillance platform, MCVR began to contribute to the disease surveillance in the country by providing case based real time surveillance data.  Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) is caused by a variety of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites some of which are amenable to therapeutic and/or preventative interventions. Advances in laboratory diagnostics have greatly enhanced understanding of the infectious aetiologies of Acute Febrile Illness (AFI).

 

However, significant gaps remain in the knowledge and understanding of burden, etiologic spectrum, and risk factors associated with AFI happening in India. The project was launched with an objective of bridging this gap and generating evidence for public health action.

 

Implemented first in the district of Shimoga, Karnataka in June 2014, the project has grown enormously with over 27 Sentinel hospitals currently under its wing. With its presence in over ten states of India including Karnataka, Kerala, Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Tripura, Tamil Nadu and Odisha, MCVR,MU continues to maintain close coordination and collaboration with the respective state health services.

 

This study aims to characterize the infectious causes of Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) among patients in District / Sub-District Hospitals / PHCs in India. It focuses on identifying pathogens including parasite (limited to malaria), bacterial, viral and other unknown causes of AFI. Using serology and modern molecular diagnostic assays, clinical samples are tested for unknown pathogens also by PCR- sequence based pathogen discovery techniques.

 

Apart from the project’s innate ability to detect various pathogens, its systematic yet highly efficient logistic system is also its highlight. Clinical samples are transported to MCVR on a daily basis under cold chain system. The results are communicated within 48 hours to the treating doctor under intimation to the State and District Health officials. This eliminates wastage of time in the diagnosis chain assisting speedy detection thereby helping with faster recovery.

 

AFI surveillance project has recruited over 12,000 cases and continues to generate valuable epidemiological data on infectious diseases in the country. This helps in taking evidence based public health action and generates evidence based health policy for the prevention and control of infectious diseases. It also aims to strengthen the public health laboratories by providing necessary equipment and protocols to enable onsite diagnosis of common diseases.

 

Further, it will help the public health infrastructure of the country in identifying emerging disease trends early which will, in turn, result in detection of outbreaks in the early stages and implementing effective control measures. 

 

For more updates and latest developments please engage with us @MCVRMU

 

For the questionnaires (Case Report Forms) please click the following language link:

Karnataka - Kannada CRF

Kerala - Malayalam CRF

Goa - Konkani CRF

Assam - Assamese CRF

Maharashtra - Marathi CRF

Gujarat - Gujarati CRF

Jharkhand - Hindi CRF

Tripura - Bengali CRF

Tamil Nadu - Tamil CRF

Odisha - Odia CRF

 

Follow the link given below to find Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on:

Case Recruitment

Informed Consent procedure

Specimen Collection

Sample storage, packaging and transport

 

Download the Annual Report Nov 2016

Download the Anuual Report Dec 2017