Since Monday, five cases of the human metapneumovirus or HMPV have been reported. All the infected patients and either few months old infants or toddlers. The identification of the virus in the country amidst reports of an outbreak in China, at the same time when COVID had started five years before, has created panic among people.
However, health experts have urged people not to panic.
Ex-AIIMS Chief Dr Randeep Guleria, who played a pivotal role in COVID management during the pandemic has said that the virus is not new and causes only mild infection in young children and elderly persons. He added the infection is self-limiting and must not be treated with antibiotics but with proper hydration and nutrition. "Covid appropriate behaviour such as wearing a mask, regular hand washing, cough etiquettes like covering your cough. If you don't have a tissue or a handkerchief to cover your cough/sneeze in your arm or elbow so that you don't spread the infection, avoid going to crowded places,” the noted pulmonologist told IANS.
He also recommended schools issue advisory to parents to not send such children to school, which can then also spread to the elderly.
On Monday, after HMPV cases were reported Union Health Minister JP Nadda assured that the Health Ministry, the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), and the National Centre for Disease Control are keeping a close watch on the situation in China, as well as in neighbouring countries. “It was first identified in 2001 and has been circulating in the entire world since many years, It spreads through the air by the way of respiration. This can affect persons of all age groups. The virus spreads more during the winter and the early spring months,” said the Union Minister.
"No reports of unusual outbreak patterns": WHO on HMPV situation in China
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has taken cognisance of the HMPV and respiratory viruses spreading in China. "WHO is in contact with Chinese health officials and has not received any reports of unusual outbreak patterns," the UN health agency has said.
"Recently, there has been interest in hMPV cases in China including suggestions of hospitals being overwhelmed. hMPV is a common respiratory virus found to circulate in many countries in winter through to spring, although not all countries routinely test and publish data on trends in hMPV," as per an official statement from WHO. " Based on data published by China, covering the period up to 29 December 2024, acute respiratory infections have increased during recent weeks and detections of seasonal influenza, rhinovirus, RSV, and hMPV, particularly in northern provinces of China have also increased. The observed increase in respiratory pathogen detections is within the range expected for this time of year during the Northern hemisphere winter," it has said.
State health officials are prepared to tackle the situation and have urged people not to panic.
In Gujarat, where an infant was identified having this viral infection, isolation wards have been created in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad and Rajkot civil hospitals as a precautionary measure. "We have created a 15-bed isolation ward at Ahmedabad civil hospital to meet any emergency in the future. Since there is no specific vaccine or medicine for this infection, patients will be given treatment as per their symptoms. Our staff is fully prepared to tackle any situation. We have also procured testing kits for detection," said civil superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi.
Karnataka government has requested people to be cautious, after the first case of the country was identified in two infants from Bengaluru. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) of which two cases have been detected in the state is not dangerous, but it is good to take precautions. He told people there is no need to worry, but appealed to them to be cautious.
"We discussed HMPV (at health department meeting). It is not a very worrying virus. It is not the one that is prevalent in China. The virus that has been detected is an existing one. It infects children, aged people and those with less immunity," Siddaramaiah said.
Tamil Nadu health minister Ma Subramanian said that virus has not created any big impact in India, and especially in the state and has advised people to follow safety measures like wearing mask, practicing social distancing and hand hygiene. The third case of the country was identified in Tamil Nadu.
After two cases of HMPV were identified in Maharashtra, the state government has established a Task Force headed by the JJ Hospital Dean Dr Pallavi Saple to craft standard operating procedure (SOP) and decide on future course of action.
States like Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, Chandigarh and others have assured of timely action.
Odisha Health & Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Tuesday appealed to the people not to panic over the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) virus. He assured that the state government is fully ready to tackle the situation amidst the ongoing Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. "I had a detailed discussion with the departmental officials today through video conference regarding the pre-preparation of the Health Department for the 18th #PravasiBharatiyaDivas starting tomorrow. The State Government is taking care to provide healthcare to the NRIs in Odisha, if required, while they are staying in the state, and the Health Department is fully prepared to avert any health-related situation," he said in a post on X.
Doctors have been posting relevant information on X to create awareness around HMPV.
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