Division of Parasitic Diseases

Full Mailing Address:

Department of Parasitic Disease,

National Centre for Disease Control,

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Telephone: 011-23913028

Head of the Division:

Dr Vinay Garg
M.B.B.S, M.D.(CHA), D.T.C.D
Joint Director & HoD
Email ID- vinay.garg@gov.in

*Other Staff in the Division

Dr Shubha Garg
M.B.B.S, M.D(Microbiology)
Deputy Director
Email ID: shubha.garg@ncdc.gov.in

Photo Not Available

Kanchan Bhardwaj
M.A (English)           
Private Secretary

R K Meena
B.Sc
Assistant Research Officer

Vijayananth P
M.Sc                                       
Research Assistant                                    
Email ID: vijayananthp@ncdc.gov.in

Vidya Vardhini
M.Sc.
Research Assistant
Email ID: vidyavardhini@ncdc.gov.in

Ravi Shankar P Goswami
M.Sc
Technician
 

Anand Singh
M.Sc.
Technician

 Saroj Bala
10th
Technician

Vinod Gupta
10th
Technician

Diwan Singh
10th
Technician

Dinesh Kumar
10th
Lab Assistant

Gulam Sabir
10th
Insect Collector

Mayawati
Animal Attendant

Sarla
Field worker

*Details of National Programmes

National Programmes implemented through division are as under

National Programme Name: Guinea Worm Eradication Programme(GWEP)

Email ID of Programme: dpdncdc@gmail.com

Officer In Charge: Dr. Shubha Garg

Programme details- Guinea Worm disease (Dracunculiasis), a crippling parasitic disease was an important public health problem in seven states of India before it was eradicated in 2000. Cases occurred in areas which had natural or artificial ponds or step-wells as sources of drinking water. India had launched the National Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (GWEP) in 1983-84 with NCDC Delhi as the nodal agency for planning, co-ordination and evaluation of the programme in the country. NCDC deployed epidemiological surveillance teams in endemic states which closely monitored the Programme and helped the district/local authorities in effective implementation of various GWEP operational components; especially surveillance and GW case containment measures. The last case of Guinea worm was reported from India in 1996. Subsequently, International Certification Team (ICT) from International Commission for Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication (ICCDE), WHO visited India from 9th -25th November, 1999 to assess the status of guinea worm disease in the country and Country was declared free of Guinea worm Disease in February 2000. However, the surveillance activities are continuing and verification of suspect cases for Guinea worm disease are being carried out under the programme till the global eradication is achieved.

Please upload any relevant photograph of Division

STH Survey: 1. Demonstrating students about specimen collection

2.Collecting health parameters of students:

3. Sample processing using Kato-Katz Method

4. Microscopic examination of stool slides on field survey

5.Lymphatic Filariasis- Patients with Lymphoedema

6.Lymphoedema Management

Details of Laboratories/Units:

Laboratories/ units under the Division:

1. Lab/Unit name: Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (GWEP)

     Officer in Charge of Lab/Unit: Dr Shubha Garg

Lab/Unit details: Guinea Worm disease (Dracunculiasis), a crippling parasitic disease was an important public health problem in seven states of India before it was eradicated in 2000. Cases occurred in areas which had natural or artificial ponds or step-wells as sources of drinking water. India had launched the National Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (GWEP) in 1983-84 with NCDC Delhi as the nodal agency for planning, co-ordination and evaluation of the programme in the country. NCDC deployed epidemiological surveillance teams in endemic states which closely monitored the Programme and helped the district/local authorities in effective implementation of various GWEP operational components; especially surveillance and GW case containment measures. The last case of Guinea worm was reported from India in 1996. Subsequently, International Certification Team (ICT) from International Commission for Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication (ICCDE), WHO visited India from 9th -25th November, 1999 to assess the status of guinea worm disease in the country and Country was declared free of Guinea worm Disease in February 2000. However, the surveillance activities are continuing and verification of suspect cases for Guinea worm disease are being carried out under the programme till the global eradication is achieved.

2. Lab/Unit name: Soil Transmitted Helminths

    Officer in Charge of Lab/Unit: Dr Shubha Garg

    Lab/Unit details:

• Since 1963, NCDC has been conducting STH surveys in different parts of the country.
• From 1999, WHO sampling methodologies and Kato-Katz technique have been adopted for stool sample examination and surveys have been conducted in different ecological zones in the country.
• NCDC has completed the countrywide mapping of the STH prevalence and Intensity among school children.
• This country wide STH survey provided support to the National Deworming Day activities and would help in monitoring the effect of de-worming in school children and to find out the appropriate effective interval of de-worming.

3. Lab/Unit name: Lymphatic Filariasis

    Officer in Charge of Lab/Unit: Dr Shubha Garg

Lab/Unit details: The Department of Parasitic Diseases, NCDC is the technical body which supports the activities under the National Filaria Control Programme (NFCP) being implemented by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme. The Department is providing necessary diagnostic services through filarial antigen and antibody testing and staining and examination of night blood smears for microfilaria at the NCDC Headquarters and at the three NCDC branches at Kozhikode, Rajamahendravaram and Varanasi.

The three branches are running filaria clinics and are providing IEC and lymph edema management service along with drug treatment to affected patients.

In addition, the branches are involved in development of trained technical manpower through 5 days training for Medical Officer/District Programme Officers and 10 days training courses for technicians at the three branches. In all, 4 trainings each are organized at the three NCDC branches every year.

The branches are also supporting the NFCP in the Transmission Assessment Surveys.

4. Lab/Unit name: Malariology

    Officer in Charge of Lab/Unit: Dr Shubha Garg

Lab/Unit details: The malaria Laboratory examines and cross examines blood slides for the presence of malaria parasites from patients referred by hospitals from Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in addition to free diagnostic service to all institution & individuals who report here for the laboratory diagnosis of malarial parasite. The Division also undertakes examination of blood slides for assisting in outbreak investigation and cross examination of slides for verification related to field and laboratory-based research activities.

      NCDC Branches under the Division:

• Kozhikode Branch, National Centre for Disease Control, Kerala (formerly RFT&RC, Kozhikode)
• Rajamahendravaram Branch, National Centre for Disease Control, Andhra Pradesh (formerly RFT&RC Rajahmundry)
• Varanasi Branch, National Centre for Disease Control, Uttar Pradesh (formerly RFT&RC Varanasi)

Mandate of the Division:

• Supporting Child Health Division in for mass deworming (National Deworming Days, NDD), through periodic STH prevalence surveys in school aged children
• Capacity building in management of Lymphatic Filariasis through training of healthcare manpower at NCDC branches.
• Educating lymphedema patients in self-care and managing morbidity through clinics at NCDC branches.
• Post eradication surveillance of Dracunculiases.
• Operational research in prevention and control of parasitic diseases
• Technical resource center for prevention and control of concerned parasitic diseases in the country.
• Diagnostic support for malaria patients

Research projects and Publication (With website link): 

         Articles:

1. Garg A, Garg VK, Dwivedi A et al. Effect of Multiple Rounds of Mass Drug Administration under Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program on Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis in One of the Co-endemic Districts of India. J Commun Dis 2018; 50(1): 1-7.
2. Jain SK, Dwivedi A, Shrivastava A, et al. Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminthic Infection in India in Current Scenario: A Systematic Review. J. Commun. Dis. 2016;48(2):24-35. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306172192_Prevalence_of_soil-transmitted helminthic_infection_in_India_in_current_scenario_A_systematic_review
3. Regu K, Rajendran R, Showkath MK, et al. Current Status of Bancroftian Filariasis in Palakkad District, Kerala. J. Commun. Dis.2016;48(4): 21-5.
4. Garg V, Jain SK, Jogdand S, et al. Prevalence of STH Infection among School Going Children in Delhi: Study of Contributing Factors in Varied Demographic Settings. J. Commun. Dis.2015; 47(3):13-18. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/298716622_Prevalence_of_STH_infection_among_school_going_children_in_Delhi_Study_of_contributing_factors_in_varied_demographic_settings