Three HMPV cases were identified in India today: 3 month baby had been discharged; An 8 month baby is improving in a hospital in Bengaluru and a 2 month baby in Ahmedabad. This create the first description of HMPV in India.
The infected infants and their families have no history of travel in the recent past, which means they were not infected from other areas or countries.
“I was involved in both cases through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for multiple respiratory viral pathogens MS-PCR as part of ICMR, our continuous surveillance of respiratory syndromes across India.” HMPV is in circulation globally including in India and some countries have reported cases of respiratory illness caused by HMPV: the Centre said in a statement on the two cases reported in Bengaluru.
Earlier it was reported that the child in Ahmedabad was on a ventilator but the child’s condition is not serious now.
The HMPV (infection) was detected in the patient on December 26 but we got to know it today as the private hospital which confirmed it reported it very late, the Chief Medical Officer of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Bhavin Solanki said.
There will be a meeting of the Health Ministry regarding the preparedness to HMPV held today.
HMPV is a respiratory virus that as a rule presents mild symptoms that can be confused with the flu or simple cold but other complications that may be associated with its infection include: The virus might cause pneumonia or worsen chronic respiratory diseases in some cases. Incidence is usually reported to be high during winters and early spring months.
On Sunday, the Centre said it was closely tracking HMPV and other respiratory viruses, more so after rises on respiratory diseases in China. A Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) met today to assess the situation with members from the World Health Organisation, the NCDC, ICMR and other health departments.
Influenza, RSV, and HMPV are Respiratory illnesses that prevalent in China exhibit occurrences consistent with respective seasonal changes. Based on the data available from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the India there is no rise in the present surveillance data associated with respiratory infections.
In this regard, the Centre has stepped up laboratory capability for HMPV testing as a measure of precaution. The ICMR will track HMPV across the year in addition to other respiratory diseases like ILI and SARI. Strong networks of surviailance that currently include ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) remain active in the surveillance of respiratory infections across the country.
Special measures have been recommended for isolation of suspected cases, adequate stock of the necessary drugs, and reporting of ILI/SARI through IHIP in the hospitals.
Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi Come Out with Guidelines as Cases Emerge
The Union health ministry said that it is seeking to track down the disease through all source of surveillance. Nevertheless, IMCR will monitor circulation of HMPV throughout the year also, it said.
The governments in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Delhi have issued advisories – like during Covid-19 – for health sectors in order to prepare for HMPV health complications.
HMPV; it is a virus first identified in January, 2001 and is a respiratory disease that presents symptoms similar to flu. It is possible for anyone but those most at risk include children below the age of five years, those over sixty five years of age, and other people who have weak immune systems.
Here are the latest updates on HMPV:
So far, the HMPV affect has been reported in only two cases in Karnataka and accordingly the chief minister Siddaramaiah instructed the health and medical education department to act accordingly.
To a certain extent, there is information on HMPV or China virus infection in Karnataka. I have directed the health department to do this precautionary measure, I have also talked with Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. We the Health and Medical Education departments – will ensure we take all the necessary precaution to contain it,” Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bengaluru.
How ever it is not a dangerous virus it is necessary to take precautions In what ever steps the health department decides it will support all those steps, he said.
When a two-month-old boy was positive for HMPV in Ahmedabad,Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel assured the people not to panic as the state government has prepared for the virus bout.
According to Patel the state Health and Family Welfare Department is very much aware of the viral infection and has alert, arrangement and preparation for this worship chief.
“As part of the several measures, the health department convened a meeting on January 4 and directed every chief district health officer, civil surgeon, superintendents of sub-district hospitals in the state to pay full attention to matters regarding the infection of this virus,” Patel added.
Besides, measures will be put in place for the diagnosis of this virus in different government hospitals he said.
Delhi Tells Hospitals to Prepare As Superbug HMPV Threat Looms
The Delhi government on Monday issued the advisory ordering all the hospitals in the Capital to stay alert and prepared for rising respiratory ailments following the identification of three cases of HMPV in the country.
In a letter reported under the headline “Most Urgent”, the Delhi Health Minister Mr. Saurabh Bharadwaj asked the concerned health and family welfare department to remain in touch with the Union health ministry regarding the situation.
“Hospitals under Delhi government must be prepared adequately for any perceived rise in respiratory diseases, as suggested by the Union health ministry,” the said directive from Bharadwaj.
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