Experts Warn India to Remain Vigilant as New Infectious Threats Emerge Nationwide

The 8th edition of the Fever Foundation Conference (FeFCon) concluded in New Delhi on December 1, 2025, with leading clinicians, researchers, and public-health experts declaring that India’s healthcare system is well-equipped to handle common seasonal fevers but must maintain heightened vigilance against emerging and re-emerging infectious threats. Organized by the Fever Foundation of India in collaboration with Micro Labs Ltd, the two-day scientific gathering emphasized evidence-based approaches to fever diagnosis, management, and surveillance. Delegates highlighted India’s strengthened diagnostic infrastructure, improved access to point-of-care testing, and growing adoption of rational antibiotic stewardship as key factors enabling effective fever care even in resource-constrained settings.

Experts stressed the importance of differentiating infectious from non-infectious causes of fever, with special sessions devoted to pediatric and critical-care management protocols. Updates on high-burden diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, scrub typhus, and leptospirosis underscored the role of rapid molecular diagnostics and syndromic surveillance in reducing mortality.

The conference also reviewed India’s progress toward measles-rubella elimination, noting that sustained high vaccination coverage and sensitive case-based surveillance have brought the country close to regional targets. Speakers praised initiatives like the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the National Centre for Disease Control’s expanded laboratory network for enabling real-time outbreak detection across states.

While acknowledging these advances, participants cautioned that climate change, urbanization, and international travel continue to facilitate the spread of both known and novel pathogens. Recent outbreaks of zoonotic diseases and the persistent challenge of antimicrobial resistance were flagged as areas requiring urgent policy attention. The conference called for continued investment in workforce training, especially at primary-care levels, and greater integration of genomic sequencing into routine surveillance to identify emerging variants early.

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The successful conclusion of FeFCon 2025 reinforced a unified message: India has built a resilient framework for fever management, but sustained funding, inter-sectoral coordination, and community awareness remain essential to stay ahead of evolving infectious threats. Organizers announced that the next edition will focus on climate-resilient fever care strategies, reflecting the growing intersection between environmental change and public health security.

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