Centre Urges States to Enhance Surveillance and Awareness for Respiratory Illnesses Amid HMPV Cases
In response to the detection of five cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in India, the Centre has advised state governments to intensify surveillance for respiratory illnesses, including Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI). The aim is to curb the spread of HMPV, a globally recognized respiratory virus, following the surge of cases in China and its recent confirmation in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat.
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava chaired a virtual meeting with state and union territory officials to assess the situation and discuss public health measures. Senior officials, including Health Research Department Secretary Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General of Health Services Dr. Atul Goel, and experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), and Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), participated in the discussion.
The Health Ministry’s statement clarified that there was no unusual rise in ILI and SARI cases across India, based on data from the IDSP and ICMR’s sentinel surveillance. Despite the global presence of HMPV since 2001, there has been no indication of a major public health threat. Health Secretary Srivastava emphasized that the general public should not be overly concerned.
However, the Centre has directed states to boost surveillance efforts for ILI/SARI cases and increase public awareness campaigns on preventing HMPV transmission. Simple precautions were advised, such as frequent hand washing, avoiding touching the face with unwashed hands, maintaining distance from symptomatic individuals, and covering the mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing.
While most cases of HMPV are mild and self-limiting, leading to full recovery, the Centre’s focus is on ensuring preparedness for any potential surge in cases, especially during the winter months when respiratory infections are more common.
The meeting also highlighted the availability of adequate diagnostic facilities through ICMR-VRDL laboratories for detecting respiratory viruses like HMPV.
