Seven cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus, have been reported in India so far. The latest case was reported from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
The first two cases were reported from Karnataka’s capital city of Bengaluru where a three-month-old and eight-month-old babies were infected. While the three-month-old was discharged, the other baby is still undergoing treatment.
The third case was reported from Gujarat’s Ahmedabad where a two-month-old has been tested positive for the HMPV virus. The fourth and fifth cases were reported in Tamil Nadu’s Chennai and Salem districts.
Two children in Maharashtra’s Nagpur also tested positive for HMPV with one case coming from Nagpur involving a seven-year-old and a 13-year-old. The children were initially suspected to be infected with H1N1 (swine flu), but later polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests confirmed HMPV. Both children recovered through outpatient care, the Meditrina Institute of Medical Sciences in Nagpur reported.
No need to panic: Centre
Meanwhile, the Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava has taken a review of the present situation of respiratory illnesses in the country, as well as the status of public health measures for their management.
There is “no surge in the country of respiratory illness; sturdy surveillance to detect such cases,” the government said, in its latest update on HMPV.
States have been advised to strengthen awareness among the masses regarding preventive measures.
States have also been advised to strengthen and review the for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) surveillance.
Earlier, Union health minister JP Nadda said that India’s surveillance network remains vigilant, and the country is ready to respond promptly to any emerging health challenges. “There is no reason to worry. We are closely monitoring the situation,” he added.
According to former ICMR scientist Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, HMPV is definitely not deadly, and there is, to date, no evidence of mortality or a severe transmission rate. “We can say HMPV is definitely not deadly. Most infections are mild, and only in children who are less than five and those who are over 65. It can cause common cold-like symptoms for 4 to 5 days,” Gangakhedkar told IANS.
“The virus may cause pneumonitis-like illness, but the mortality rates are almost unknown so far. HMPV has a global prevalence of about 4 per cent,” he added.
(With IANS inputs)
