Pathogens were detected in 11.1% of the 4.5 lakh patients tested by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) laboratories. The tests, conducted under the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) network, aimed to identify viral infections of public health significance.
Top Five Pathogens Detected
The ICMR report highlighted the five most common pathogens across various infections:
- Influenza A in acute respiratory infection (ARI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases
- Dengue virus in acute fever and haemorrhagic fever cases
- Hepatitis A in jaundice cases
- Norovirus in acute diarrhoeal disease (ADD) outbreaks
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) in Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) cases
Infection Rate Sees a Quarterly Rise
As reported by The Hindu, the report revealed that the spread of infectious diseases rose from 10.7% in the first quarter to 11.5% in the second quarter of 2025. Between January and March, 24,502 (10.7%) of 2,28,856 samples tested positive. From April to June, 26,055 (11.5%) of 2,26,095 samples were found to contain pathogens. This 0.8 percentage point increase indicates a gradual rise in infection rates, emphasizing the need for stronger disease monitoring systems.
Experts Warn of Emerging Threats
According to a senior ICMR scientist, this modest rise should not be underestimated. “Even a small quarterly increase can act as a warning sign for seasonal diseases and emerging infections,” the scientist noted. Continuous tracking of quarterly trends could help prevent future epidemics through timely intervention.
VRDL Network Acts as an Early Warning System
Functioning as the country’s early warning system, the VRDL network investigated 191 disease clusters between April and June 2025. These included infections caused by mumps, measles, rubella, dengue, chikungunya, rotavirus, norovirus, varicella zoster virus, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), and astrovirus.
In comparison, the VRDL network investigated 389 clusters during January to March, identifying mumps, measles, rubella, hepatitis, dengue, chikungunya, rotavirus, influenza, Leptospira, varicella zoster virus, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
A Decade of Disease Surveillance
From 2014 to 2024, the VRDL network tested over 40 lakh samples, identifying pathogens in 18.8% of cases. Over the years, the network has expanded significantly—from 27 laboratories in 2014 to 165 laboratories across 31 states and Union Territories by 2025.
Strengthening National Health Preparedness
So far, the VRDL network has identified 2,534 disease clusters across India. This expansion and consistent surveillance play a critical role in detecting, tracking, and responding to infectious disease outbreaks, reinforcing India’s capacity for public health preparedness.