LIVE | HMPV: ‘Step up surveillance for ILI, SARI’, Centre tells states

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.

The two suspected cases of HMPV detected in Nagpur, both children aged seven and 14 years, were treated in the outpatient department of a private hospital. Their samples were tested and marked as suspected, Nagpur District Collector Vipin Itankar told reporters.

"The media reports about HMPV patients in Nagpur are wrong," he asserted. Itankar said there were no HMPV patients in Nagpur, and there was no need to panic.

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.

Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava on Monday chaired a virtual meeting with states and union territories to take stock of respiratory illnesses and HMPV cases in the country and public health measures for their management, a health ministry statement said.

The meeting was attended by Health Research Department Secretary Dr Rajiv Bahl, Director General of Health Services Dr Atul Goel, experts from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, (IDSP), Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), National Institute of Virology (NIV) and State Surveillance Units of IDSP, a health ministry statement said.

The meeting was held amid reports of a surge in HMPV cases in China and on a day when five cases of HMPV were confirmed in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

HMPV is a globally recognised respiratory virus. It is a viral pathogen that causes respiratory infections in people of all age groups.

During the meeting, it was reiterated that the data from IDSP does not indicate any unusual rise in influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illnesses (SARI) cases anywhere in the country, the statement said.

This is also corroborated by the ICMR sentinel surveillance data, it said.

Union health secretary Srivastava emphasised that there is no cause of concern for the public as HMPV has been present globally since 2001, the statement said.

She advised states to strengthen and review the ILI/SARI surveillance.

The states were also advised to enhance information, education and communication (IEC) and awareness among people regarding the prevention of transmission of the virus with simple measures such as washing hands often with soap and water; not touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands; avoiding close contact with people exhibiting symptoms of the disease; and covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.

Srivastava reiterated that an increase in respiratory illnesses is usually seen during the winter months and that the country is well prepared for any potential surge in such cases, the statement said.

HMPV is one of the many respiratory viruses that can cause infections in people of all ages, particularly during the winter and early spring months. The virus infection is usually a mild and self-limiting condition and most patients recover on their own.

During the meeting, it was informed that adequate diagnostic facilities are available with the ICMR-VRDL laboratories, the statement said.

A 13 and a seven-year-old are suspected to have contracted HMPV in Nagpur.

Deputy Director of Health Shashikant Shambharkar said the records of the suspected patients are being sent to AIIMS Nagpur for test.

“The reports of both these patients have come back positive in a private hospital. Both these patients have been treated and discharged. The reports of both these suspected patients are being sent to AIIMS Nagpur for examination," Shambharkar said.

Telangana Health Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha on Monday said all medical facilities are available in the state and the government is ready to deal with any situation over Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV).

There is no need to panic about the virus, he said in a statement.

The health officials are coordinating with their counterparts at the Centre and the state government has alerted the administration to further strengthen the disease surveillance system and to be prepared with all resources, he said.

The government would take a serious view if false and baseless information which will scare common people is spread on social media, the minister said.

Noting that HMPV is not a new virus but was found in 2001, he said it has been in circulation in the world since then. It is enough to be cautious about virus.

China is witnessing more HMPV cases this year and the government is monitoring the situation in other states and countries, he said.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday directed the Health, Medical & Family Welfare Department officials to be alert to Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) and take preventive measures.

During a teleconference with officials and Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav to review the situation, the Chief Minister was informed that no HMPV case was recorded in the state.

"Keep an eye on newcomers into the state and wherever there is a suspicion, conduct tests comprehensively," Naidu directed officials, said an official press release.

Earlier, the health minister also held a review meeting with officials, who informed him that HMPV has been around since 2001 but with a low fatality rate.

"As there is no case of HMPV reported, no increase in cases of severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) and influenza like illness (ILI) and there is no need for alarm as it is mild in nature, it is advised to be vigilant on SARI and ILI cases," said an official press release.

An expert committee (task force) of a micro biologist, paediatricians, pulmonologist and preventive medicine professors was constituted to provide technical inputs to the government and required actions to be taken for further management.

For testing, it has been advised to procure uniplex kits while 10 Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) accredited virology labs in the state are available to conduct the tests.

Incidentally, 4.5 lakh N95 masks, 14 lakh triple-layered masks, 3.5 lakh personal protective equipment (PPE) kits are readily available with the health department and it has been advised to procure more stocks of these items and hand sanitisers for the next three months, said the press release.

Sufficient drugs to treat HMPV related illnesses are available in the southern state, the release added.

"In case of necessity, it is advised to procure specialised drugs such as Ribavirin locally till such stocks are supplied by the Andhra Pradesh Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (APMSIDC). The severity might be more in immune-suppressant patients, patients on immunoglobulins, infants and patients with chronic illness. Hence, proper care to be taken for such patients," said the release.

Likewise, 20-bedded isolation wards will be kept ready in all government and teaching hospitals while mock drills will be conducted in all hospitals to ensure uninterrupted availability of oxygen, among other measures, the press release added.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said citizens must not panic amid the detection of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in some other states and asserted his government will soon issue a comprehensive advisory on the situation.

A two-month-old boy admitted to a private hospital in Ahmedabad Gujarat has been detected with HMPV infection, while two cases have been detected in Karnataka.

Both states share borders with Maharashtra.

Speaking to reporters in Kolhapur, Fadnavis said, "Citizens must not panic. The state health department will soon issue a comprehensive advisory on the situation. It is not a new virus. It is coming again. We will reissue an advisory regarding the virus." The situation is being monitored closely and the Union health ministry and state health officials are in touch to assess it, he added.

Maharashtra health minister Prakash Abitkar said there was no need to panic, adding that instructions to implement necessary measures have been issued to all health services in the state.

"A meeting on the issue will be convened in a couple of days. People just need to follow guidelines and instructions issued by the health department. The Union health ministry is also keeping watch," he said in Pune.

A notification issued by the state health department on Sunday to all district level health sections and hospitals said HMPV is a respiratory virus that can cause upper and lower respiratory tract infections in people of all ages.

It is a seasonal disease prevalent in winter and summer, it added.

"Citizens are advised to cover their mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, wash their hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer. They must stay away from public places if they experience symptoms such as fever, cough or sneezing," the notification said.

Meanwhile, the Pune Municipal Corporation, as a precautionary measure, has earmarked 50 isolation beds and five ICU beds at Naidu Infectious Diseases Hospital in Baner.

Other civic and private hospitals have been told to remain ready to tackle any emergency situation, a PMC release said. 

Amid reports of the detection of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in parts of the country, the Odisha government on Monday said it is prepared to tackle any such situation.

Speaking to media persons, state public health director Nilakantha Mishra said, “There is no need to panic as the Centre has not issued any advisory so far. Still, we are prepared to tackle the situation at any point of time.”

The state has strengthened the disease surveillance system, especially influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), he said.

Mishra said, “If there is a rise in the number of cough and cold cases in an area, we ensure that the person concerned undergoes tests and gets treatment.” The state has learnt a lesson from the Covid-19 pandemic and the health system has been strengthened and better equipped, he said.