After China, the HMPV virus struck India as well. HMPV, i.e., Human Metapneumovirus, is spreading rapidly in India. On Monday, five cases of HMPV were found in a single day, creating a stir in India. Due to this, Health Minister JP Nadda himself had to give a statement. He told the countrymen that the government is closely monitoring the situation.
There is nothing to worry about right now. So far five cases of HMPV virus have been found in India. On Monday, two patients of HMPV virus were found in Karnataka, one in Gujarat and 2 in Tamil Nadu. Today i.e. on Tuesday also two new cases have been found. In this way, the new disease HMPV, which started spreading from China, has also increased the tension of India. All the cases found in India so far are infected children. So let us know what are the latest updates regarding HMPV virus in India and China.
What did the Government of India say about the HMPV virus?
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Monday said the government is closely monitoring the situation after cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) were reported in India and there was nothing to worry about. He said HMPV is not a new virus and no increase in any common respiratory virus pathogen has been observed in the country.
In a video message, JP Nadda said that given the recent reports of HMPV in China, the Health Ministry, the country’s top health research body ICMR and the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) are keeping a close watch on the situation in China and other neighboring countries. He said the WHO has taken cognizance of the situation and will soon share the report with us.
10 big things on HMPV virus
- ICMR has confirmed the detection of 6 cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in India, which is spreading rapidly in China.
- ICMR and the Union Health Ministry have made it clear that there is no need to panic about this virus.
- According to Director General of Health Services, Dr. Atul Goyal, the HMPV virus is not new and it has been active in many countries of the world including India for a long time.
- If we talk about the spread of the common pneumonia virus in winter, then the risk of its infection increases in winter. But there are no signs of its infection increasing in India.
- A senior official of the Ministry of Health said that the risk of pneumonia virus infection increases in the winter season and it affects the elderly and children under five years of age more.
- It was identified in 2001 and has been spreading all over the world for many years.
- HMPV spreads through air, through breathing. It can affect people of all ages.
- Both the cases in India have been detected through regular monitoring of ICMR. Samples of some cases of pneumonia are sent to the laboratory to monitor virus infection so that the infecting virus can be correctly identified.
- HMPV is a globally recognized respiratory disease-causing virus that can cause respiratory problems in people of all age groups.
- Patients suffer from cough, fever, difficulty in breathing and runny nose.
