 "HMPV scare: Centre asks states to enhance surveillance, create awareness")
As cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) are being detected in India, the Centre has asked states to enhance surveillance of respiratory illnesses and strengthen awareness among the people to prevent its transmission.
In a review meeting with states and union territories (UTs), Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said there is no cause for concern for the public from HMPV, which has been present globally since 2001.
“The country is well prepared for any potential surge in respiratory illness cases,” the ministry stated in its official communication.
The meeting comes amid concerns over reports of an outbreak of HMPV in China, followed by detection of seven cases of the virus in India. They include two cases each from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and one from Gujarat (Ahmedabad).
Another two suspected HMPV cases were reported from Maharashtra’s Nagpur, with the patients’ test samples being sent to AIIMS Nagpur and Pune’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) for further investigation.
The health ministry added that HMPV is one of the many respiratory viruses that can cause infections in people of all ages, particularly during the winter and early spring months.
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“The virus infection is usually mild and self-limiting and most people recover on their own,” it added.
States and UTs have been asked to strengthen and review their surveillance of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI). And, the health ministry reiterated that data from Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) does not indicate any unusual rise in ILI/SARI cases anywhere in the country.
The secretary also informed that adequate diagnostic facilities are available with the ICMR’s Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) network.
The central government had already announced last week that it was monitoring the situation closely. It added that there was no reason for panic as the virus is not new to India.
“A joint monitoring group of the ministry has already recommended increasing the number of laboratories testing for HMPV under the ICMR’s network. This is to better monitor trends throughout the year,” an official in the know said.
Asking the public to take adequate precautions instead of panicking over HMPV on social media platform X, Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO) said according to ICMR data, HMPV accounts for 3 per cent of respiratory pathogens detected in the laboratory network.
Taking cue from the central government’s directives, health departments in several states, including Karnataka, Delhi, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand, have begun monitoring the situation closely and issued public health advisories to enhance preparedness.
States are asking hospitals to isolate suspected cases and maintain thorough documentation on SARI. Essential treatments such as paracetamol, antihistamines, bronchodilators, and oxygen supplies are being made available.
The Odisha health department on Tuesday asked all medical units and laboratories in the state to remain prepared to tackle any emergency, even as it detected no cases.
“The Centre has not issued any advisory yet. However, the state will follow all guidelines and standard operating procedures to be issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,” Odisha health minister Mukesh Mahaling said.
(with Inputs from PTI)