Two children, aged seven and 14, tested positive for the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Nagpur, increasing the total number of cases of the respiratory illness to seven.
On January 3, the children were taken to a private hospital in the city’s Ramdaspeth area for fever and cough treatment.
After tests were conducted, hospital authorities confirmed that the two were infected with HMPV, an illness similar to Covid-19 that affects the upper and lower respiratory tract with symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose and sore throat.
The Maharashtra health department is on alert mode over a possible surge in the number of cases. People suffering from cough, fever or any of the Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) have been asked to take extra precautions.
The department has urged people of the state to remain calm and not panic. It will soon issue guidelines regarding preventions and measures against the virus.
In the wake of the Nagpur cases, Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar has called for a meeting at 3 pm at St. George’s Hospital Health Centre. Union Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav will also be in attendance.
The two cases have increased the total number of HMPV infections in the country to seven. A two-month-old boy admitted to a private hospital in Ahmedabad has been detected with the virus, while Bengaluru has reported two infections.
Both Gujarat and Karnataka share borders with Maharashtra.
The remaining two cases were reported in Tamil Nadu.
Despite the gradual surge in cases, Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday asserted that HMPV is not a new virus and has been present globally for several years since it was first identified in 2001.
He urged citizens to remain calm, while assuring that the Centre is actively monitoring the situation and implementing necessary measures to safeguard public health.
UNION HEALTH SECRETARY REVIEWS SITUATION
Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra on Tuesday reviewed the present situation in the wake of the HMPV cases. He said that there was no surge of respiratory illnesses in the country and stressed that sturdy surveillance was ongoing to detect such cases.
The Health Secretary advised states to strengthen awareness among residents regarding preventive measures, as well as to boost and review surveillance of respiratory illnesses.
The HMPV infection was first detected in 2001 in the Netherlands and several cases were earlier found in parts of India. (india Today)
