HMPV Cases Updates: India Tally Reaches 7; Maharashtra Calls Meet, Uttarakhand Issues Virus 'Prevention' Alert

Amid reports of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in parts of the country, the Patna district administration on Tuesday urged people to follow the guidelines issued by the Centre and the Bihar government, stating there was “no need to panic”.

A statement issued by the Patna district administration said, “People should follow the health advisory issued by the authorities concerned to prevent HMPV disease. District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh also directed the district civil surgeon to ensure better functioning of hospitals for proper treatment of patients suffering from respiratory diseases, including seasonal influenza and HMPV.” “The DM has categorically said that there is no need for people to panic. All preparations have been made by the district administration as per the standards,” it said.

The Centre has advised states to step up surveillance for respiratory illnesses, including ILI and SARI, and spread awareness about the prevention of transmission of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) after five cases were detected in India.

On Tuesday, two suspected cases of the virus were reported from Maharashtra’s Nagpur. Both the patients were discharged after treatment, a senior official said.

Their samples have been sent to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Nagpur and the National Institute of Virology in Pune, the official said.

Children and elderly with cold and cough must stay at home to prevent the spread of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory illness currently seeing an uptick in the country, said former AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria, on Tuesday.

Speaking to IANS, Guleria, Chairman, Institute of Internal Medicine, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Medanta Gurugram, said that prevention is most important.

“If the child has fever, cold, and cough, the child should stay at home for at least 5 to 7 days, so that the child does not give the infection to others in the school,” he said.

Amid the detection of cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection in Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the Odisha government on Tuesday asked all medical facilities and laboratories in the state to remain prepared to tackle any exigency.

After holding a high-level meeting here in the morning, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling said a small number of HMPV cases have been detected in some parts of the country so far.

However, no case has been detected in Odisha so far. So, there is no need to panic, he said as quoted by PTI.

Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari on Tuesday said the state has been unaffected by the human metapneumovirus infection, and there is no need to panic over the detection of such cases in other parts of the country.

Ansari said he is closely monitoring the situation.

“The infection of HMPV has been reported in parts of the country but there is no impact in Jharkhand. I have been closely monitoring the situation. There is no need to panic as no cases of the HMPV infection have so far been reported in the state,” Ansari told reporters as quoted by PTI.

The two-month-old infant, who tested positive for the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Ahmedabad, is showing improvement in health conditions, said doctors.

The HMPV was detected in a 2-month-old child who came from Rajasthan’s Dungarpur to Sarwar and was later referred to Ahmedabad, state’s Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said in a press statement.

Those who suffer from the common respiratory virus may show many symptoms, including:

• Fever
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Rapid breathing (tachypnea)
• Chest retractions

The Uttarakhand government issued an advisory on Monday to prevent and control respiratory diseases, including seasonal influenza and human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which is witnessing a global spread, according to an official release.

Hospitals have been directed to ensure the availability of adequate isolation beds or wards, oxygen beds, ICU beds, ventilators, and oxygen cylinders for the treatment of influenza and pneumonia patients. No active cases of HMPV have been found in Uttarakhand.

Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar called a meeting of the health department officials to review and discuss precautionary measures for HMPV. It comes after two suspected cases of HMPV were reported in Nagpur.

After two confirmed cases of HMPV infection in Bengaluru, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said, citing doctors and specialists, that HMPV is not dangerous, but people must exercise precaution as directed by the health ministry.

Union Health Secretary reviewed the present situation of respiratory illnesses in the country and confirmed no surge in HMPV cases. All states have been advised to step up surveillance for Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses (SARI) and Influenza Like Illness (ILI) to identify any surge in respiratory illnesses

Prominent biologist Dr Shekhar Mande told CNN-News18 that generally, children below the age of five years and elderly people above the age of 65 or those with low immunity are more susceptible to catching infection caused by HMPV. “However, it doesn’t mean that catching an infection would take them to hospital or they can die,” he added.

The chances of another Covid-like pandemic by the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) are very unlikely because of the widespread immunity developed by humans over decades of past exposure to the virus, prominent biologist Dr Shekhar Mande told CNN-News18. READ MORE

What Is HMPV? HMPV is a common respiratory virus that causes cold-like upper respiratory tract infections. Such infections are more common in the winter and early spring. Symptoms include cough, fever and runny nose, among others. The health ministry said that HMPV infections are not new to India as its first case was reported in 2001. READ MORE 

• Bengaluru, Karnataka- 2 HMPV Cases
• Ahmedabad, Gujarat- 1 HMPV Case
• Nagpur, Maharashtra- 2 HMPV Cases
• Chennai, Tamil Nadu- 1 HMPV Case
• Salem, Tamil Nadu- 1 HMPV Case

Amid a surge in HMPV cases in China, India reported seven cases of the respiratory virus, with cases coming to the fore from Bengaluru, Nagpur, Tamil Nadu, and Ahmedabad.