With seven HMPV cases reported in India, the central government has advised states to step up surveillance for respiratory illnesses, including ILI and SARI, and spread awareness, reported PTI on Tuesday.
Jharkhand Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari on Wednesday instructed the Health Department to remain vigilant in preventing the spread of HMPV across the state. He has also asked officials to deploy medical teams at railway stations, airport across the state for heightened monitoring.
In a release, Dr. Ansari said, “People between 5 and 70 years of age are susceptible to this virus, and its symptoms closely resemble those of COVID-19.” He further instructed health officials to deploy medical teams at railway stations, airports, and other critical locations to monitor and investigate potential cases.
Amid growing concern about HMPV cases in India, two more cases have been reported from Nagpur, Maharashtra. With this, the total HMPV tally in India reached to 7.
On Monday, two cases were reported from Bengaluru in Karnataka, while a third tested positive after being hospitalised in Gujarat. The development comes even as China and other countries battle a major outbreak of viral fever and pneumonia.
