HMPV Cases in India : Maharashtra Issues Advisory
HMPV Cases in India : Maharashtra has issued a comprehensive health advisory as India intensifies its surveillance against the growing threat of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). This comes after the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) directed all states to strengthen their monitoring of respiratory illnesses.
HMPV, first identified in 2001 in the Netherlands, is a virus that can cause acute respiratory infections, leading to symptoms such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and flu-like illness. While China has declared a public health emergency due to a surge in HMPV cases, India has also sounded the alarm. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has confirmed three HMPV cases – two in Karnataka and one in Gujarat – further increasing concerns nationwide.
Although no HMPV cases have been reported in Maharashtra yet, the state health department has proactively released an advisory outlining preventive measures. These include maintaining proper hand hygiene, covering coughs and sneezes, staying hydrated, and ensuring adequate ventilation in both public and private spaces. The advisory also discourages handshaking, reusing tissues, and self-medication.
Dr. R.B. Pawar, Deputy Director of Health Services, emphasized the importance of caution, stating, “While there is no need for panic, adhering to preventive measures is crucial. This will help minimize the spread of infection.”
Public health officials across Maharashtra have been instructed to enhance surveillance for Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI). They are required to submit regular reports on these conditions, as per the directive issued by the state’s Director of Public Health.
“We have analyzed respiratory infection data from December 2024 and found no significant increase compared to December 2023. However, given the global alert, we are strengthening our surveillance system to prevent any potential outbreaks,” stated a senior health official.
