New Delhi4 minutes ago
There have been a total of 15 cases of Corona virus like Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in the country. The first case was reported in Assam on Saturday. A 10 month old child is positive here.
The child is undergoing treatment at the Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh. His condition is stable. Dr. Dhrubjyoti Bhuiyan told that the child was admitted to the government hospital four days ago due to symptoms of cold.
Gujarat has the highest number of 4 cases of HMPV in the country. 3 cases have been reported in Maharashtra, 2 each in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, one case each in UP, Rajasthan, Assam and Bengal.
Now states have also increased vigilance due to increase in HMPV cases. In Punjab, the elderly and children have been advised to wear masks. Here in Gujarat, isolation wards are being made in hospitals. In Haryana also, the Health Department has been ordered to monitor HMPV cases.
small children most affected When infected with HMPV, patients show symptoms like cold and Covid-19. Its biggest impact is being seen on small children. Among these, children below 2 years of age are most affected. The Center has advised states to increase surveillance of respiratory illnesses such as ‘influenza like illness’ and ‘severe acute respiratory issues’ and spread awareness about HMPV.
Central government had said – HMPV infection is common in winter There was talk of an emergency-like situation amid increasing cases of HMPV in China. However, the Government of India had held a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group on January 4. After this the government had said that flu-like conditions are not unusual in the winter season. We are also keeping an eye on the affairs of China and the government is ready to deal with them.
The country is fully prepared to deal with any surge in cases of respiratory diseases. RSV and HMPV are the reasons for increasing cases of flu in China. These are common influenza viruses this season. The government is keeping a close eye on the situation. Also, WHO has been asked to give periodic updates about the situation in China.
Government said – System exists to check diseases like flu The government said India has a robust surveillance system for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) for influenza through ICMR and IDSP. Data from both the agencies show that there has been no unusual increase in ILI and SARI cases.
However, it was also said that as a precaution, ICMR will increase the number of labs testing HMPV. Will also keep an eye on HMPV cases throughout the year.
Know about HMPV virus from experts…
Former director of AIIMS said – HMPV cannot be treated with antibioticsFormer director of AIIMS, Dr. Randeep Guleria said that HMPV is not a new virus. The virus usually resolves on its own. It cannot be treated with antibiotics. He advised people to drink as much water as possible and eat nutritious food. Also asked to avoid going to crowded places.
Founder of Covid Rx Exchange said – HMPV is like an ordinary infectionDr. Shashank Heda, founder and chief executive of CovidRxExchange in Dallas, US state of Texas, told Bhaskar that the media is showing exaggerated concern about this virus. Whereas, statistics show that the reason for the sudden increase in people in hospitals is not just HMPV, but many other viral infections.
Viruses like HMPV usually spread temporarily during this season. After some time their cases naturally decline. Therefore, more people being admitted to the hospital should not be taken to mean that health services have failed.
Understand the ways to avoid HMPV virus in questions and answers…
Question: What is HMPV virus?
answer: HMPV is an RNA virus that typically causes cold-like symptoms. This may cause coughing or wheezing in the throat. There may be a runny nose or sore throat. Its risk is higher in cold weather.
Question: How does HMPV virus spread? answer: The HMPV virus spreads through coughing and sneezing. This virus spreads through contact with an infected person. It can also be spread by shaking hands with an infected person or touching any object infected with the virus. Its symptoms start appearing in 3 to 5 days after getting infected.
Question: What are the symptoms of HMPV disease? answer: Its most common symptoms are cough and fever. Initially its symptoms appear similar to normal viral ones, but if the effect of the virus is severe then there can be a risk of pneumonia and bronchitis. What are its symptoms, see in the graphic:
Question: Is HMPV like corona virus? answer: HMPV virus (Paramyxoviridae Family) and Corona virus (Coronaviridae Family), both are part of different families. Despite this, many things are similar in them.
Respiratory Illness: Both viruses mainly affect the respiratory system.
Transmission: Both viruses spread through inhalation and contact with contaminated surfaces.
symptoms: Symptoms of both viruses are similar. These include fever, cough, sore throat, wheezing and difficulty in breathing.
Vulnerable Groups: Children, the elderly and people with weak immunity are most at risk from both viruses.
Prevention: Keeping hands clean, wearing masks and social distancing are important measures to prevent both viruses.
Question: Can this virus spread all over the world like Corona? answer: This is not a new virus. Last year also there was news of its spread in China. In the year 2023, this virus was also detected in countries like Netherlands, Britain, Finland, Australia, Canada and America. According to the National Library of Medicine, it was first detected in the Netherlands in 2001. However, it is considered to be a virus at least 50 years old.
No such variant of this virus has been seen yet, which spreads in an explosive manner like Corona.
Question: Is there any treatment or vaccine for this disease?
answer: No antiviral medicine has been made yet for HMPV virus. However, it has a very normal effect on most people. Therefore, its symptoms can be managed only by staying at home. People who develop severe symptoms may be given oxygen therapy, IV drips, and corticosteroids (a form of steroids).
No vaccine has been developed yet to deal with this virus. In fact, due to HMPV virus, such conditions have not yet arisen that there is a need to make a vaccine for it.
Question: Has WHO issued any update regarding HMPV?
answer: No, the World Health Organization has not yet issued any update regarding the HMPV virus spreading in China. However, China’s neighboring countries have demanded WHO to issue correct updates in this regard.
Question: What have the health officials of India said about HMPV?
answer: The country’s Director General of Health Services, Dr. Atul Goyal has said that there is no possibility of any serious situation regarding this in India. Here metapneumovirus is a normal respiratory virus. Due to this, symptoms like cold and flu can be seen.
However, its symptoms may be a little severe in the elderly and in children under one year of age. Despite this, it is not a serious disease. Our hospitals are fully prepared to deal with the situation.
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Also read these news related to HMPV virus…
1. Bhaskar Explainer- 9 cases of HMPV virus in India: How dangerous is a virus like Corona, answer to every question related to China’s virus.
corona After 5 years of the epidemic, a new disease has again emerged in China. The name of its virus is- HMPV. A total of 9 cases of corona-like HMPV virus have been reported in India so far. Let us know in Bhaskar Explainer whether HMPV is as deadly as Corona. How will it be treated? Will there be a lockdown again? Everything you need to know. ,
2. Will another epidemic like Corona spread in the world; How dangerous is HMPV virus, there is no vaccine for it
On hearing the name Corona, many scary scenes come before the eyes. This epidemic has created an outcry all over the world and has taken the lives of more than 70 lakh people so far. Five years after the Corona epidemic, another disease is knocking in China. The name of this new virus is – HMPV i.e. Human Metapneumovirus. Read the full news…
