HMPV cases in India: Various states, including the governments of Karnataka, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, issued an advisory and assured people that there was no cause for alarm. The Delhi government directed all hospitals to remain fully prepared to manage the surge in respiratory cases.
HMPV cases in India:Five babies have tested positive for the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat on Monday. In the wake of these developments, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said the Central government is closely monitoring the situation and there is no reason to worry. It should be noted that the HMPV is a globally recognised respiratory virus that recently gained attention after its outbreak was reported in China.
On Monday, various states, including the governments of Karnataka, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, issued an advisory and assured people that there was no cause for alarm. In the meantime, the Delhi government directed all hospitals in the capital to remain fully prepared to manage a potential surge in respiratory illnesses, with former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal urging the Centre to act swiftly to prevent a potential health crisis.
The Delhi government on Monday directed all the hospitals in the capital city to remain fully prepared to manage a potential surge in respiratory illnesses following the detection of two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Karnataka. In a directive which was marked “Most Urgent”, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj instructed the health and family welfare department to closely monitor the situation, and remain in constant touch with the Union health ministry for timely updates.Hospitals under the Delhi government must be fully equipped to handle any potential increase in respiratory illnesses, as advised by the Union health ministry,” the directive issued by Bharadwaj said.
The Karnataka government issued a health advisory and urged the people of the state not to panic as the virus is not as transmissible as COVID. Saying that the respiratory virus primarily affects children, causing infections similar to the common cold, the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) said hospitals have been instructed to report influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases.
The Maharashtra government also issued a health advisory and said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said people of the state must not panic amid the detection of HMPV cases in some other states. However, he asserted that his government will soon issue another comprehensive advisory on the situation. In the meantime, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said no HMPV case has been found in the metropolis.
The Andhra Pradesh government also issued an advisory with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directing the Health, Medical & Family Welfare Department officials to be alert to Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) and take preventive measures. During a teleconference with officials and Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav to review the situation, the Chief Minister was informed that no HMPV case was recorded in the state.