NEW DELHI: India is keeping a close watch on the current situation in China, the health ministry said on Friday, referring to the reported outbreak of H9N2 cases and clusters of respiratory illness in children in northern China.
H9N2 is a subtype of Influenza A virus also referred to as the bird flu virus.According to the Union health ministry, there is low risk to India from both the bird flu (avian influenza) cases reported from China as well as the clusters of respiratory illness.Bird flu viruses that infect people are considered novel to humans and have the potential to become pandemic threats.