J&K Health officials maintain vigilance over HMPV, stress no panic

Srinagar, Jan 05: Jammu and Kashmir is maintaining alert over the surge in Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in China, with health officials assuring that there is no need for panic and the situation is not alarming.
A senior officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Department said they are in constant touch with the Union Health Ministry, World Health Organization (WHO), and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for any updates.
“We are in touch with them. There is nothing as of now. But we will make sure that whatever the eventuality happens (if any), the department will be fully ready and geared up to meet any challenges thrown. We are maintaining an alert,” he said.
The officer stated that, according to the WHO Nodal Officer for Communicable Diseases, China experiences a recurrence of respiratory illnesses every winter, as observed last year.
Doctors at major tertiary care hospitals in Kashmir have assured the public that there is no cause for alarm or panic, as the valley also experiences winter-related infections every year.
Director Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, Dr Mohd Ashraf Ganaie said the valley is seeing usual viral infections due to prevailing winter and cold conditions.
“HMPV is not that serious and there is no such case in India. Nothing is alarming. We should not worry and should not create unnecessary panic,” he said. However, Dr Ganaie said that it is always advisable for people to take precautions.
Doctors have advised the public to follow standard precautions for respiratory infections, including avoiding contact with others if experiencing cough or cold symptoms.
Renowned pulmonologist and Head of the Department of Chest Medicine Chest Disease Hospital Srinagar, Dr Naveed Nazir Shah has said that HMPV is an old virus that typically causes respiratory infections similar to the common cold. He advised the public to follow general precautions to prevent the spread of infections.
“There is no specific treatment for the virus. The key is to avoid contact with others if you have symptoms of cold or respiratory infection,” he said.
HMPV is a common respiratory virus that causes lower and upper respiratory infections (like a cold). It is a seasonal disease that usually occurs in the winter and early spring, similar to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and the flu.
On Jan 04, the Union Health Ministry held a meeting urging people to remain calm amid the tensions over the speculated spread of HMPV in China, assuring that India is prepared to handle respiratory illnesses and that the situation in China is “not unusual”.