Difficulty in breathing, bird flu like symptoms… advisory declared in Delhi to avoid HMPV virus spreading in China

HMPV Virus Advisory: This virus has also entered India from the neighboring country China. HMPV virus has been found in an eight-month-old girl in a hospital in Bengaluru. Considering its seriousness, the medical authorities of Delhi have announced an advisory.

Five years after the Covid-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 7 million people worldwide, a new virus has spread again in China. Patients suffering from this virus, known as Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), have difficulty breathing. Flu symptoms are also visible.

Instructions to hospitals to be ready for treatment

Director General of Health Services Dr. Vandana Bagga held a meeting with Chief District Medical Officers and State Program Officers of IDSP to discuss preparedness for treatment of respiratory diseases in Delhi. Hospitals have also been directed to immediately report cases of influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) through the IHIP portal. Strict isolation protocols and precautions have been ordered for suspected cases. Hospitals have been ordered to keep laboratories ready to test for SARI cases and HMPV under strict surveillance.

Instructed to keep these medicines available

Instructions have been given to ensure availability of paracetamol, antihistamines, bronchodilators and cough syrups along with oxygen for the treatment of HMPV and SARI viruses. Notably, according to an update from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, National Center for Disease Control and WHO, there has been no significant increase in cases related to this virus till January 2, 2025.

What is HMPV?

Symptoms of human metapneumovirus are usually similar to cold, cough and fever. Symptoms like running nose, sore throat, cough, fever are seen. From small children to the elderly can also get infected with HMPV. The virus can take serious forms in people with weak immune systems. In which there is difficulty in breathing also. HMPV and SARS-CoV-2 belong to different viral families. Both viruses affect the respiratory system. The infection spreads like Covid.