NEW DELHI — Indian authorities have confirmed the first case of an infection called human metapneumovirus in the vast country. HMPVAccording to the Indian Council of Medical Research, seven people are said to have contracted the virus as of Tuesday.
Two of the HMPV cases were reported in the central Indian city of Nagpur on Tuesday, two in Bengaluru city and one each in Ahmedabad, Chennai and Salem on Monday. The cases include a 3-month-old baby girl who tested positive for HMPV on Monday. In another case, an 8-month-old boy tested positive for both HMPV and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
HMPV can cause upper and lower respiratory tract disease in people of all ages. Young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of severe illness from the virus. According to the CDC, symptoms commonly associated with HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.
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HMPV infection is It is reported that it is rapidly increasing in China.has received worldwide attention, but Dr. Carla Garcia Carreno, director of infection prevention and control at Plano Children’s Medical Center in Texas, told CBS News this week that there is no concern about the possibility of another pandemic. spoke.
“This has been around for a while, so people have some immunity,” she said, adding that the virus is fairly stable. COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) Viruses mutate frequently, making them difficult to fight.
India’s federal government on Monday asked states to step up surveillance of respiratory diseases and spread awareness on how to prevent HMPV infection. Precautions include covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, washing your hands frequently, and wearing a mask in crowded places.
“Health experts have made it clear that HMPV is not a new virus. HMPV was first identified in 2001 and has been circulating worldwide for many years,” India’s Health Minister JP Nadda said on Monday. Ta. “The country’s health system and surveillance network are on alert and there is no need to worry.”
Nadda said the infected person in India had no recent travel history and the government was “closely monitoring the situation in China and neighboring countries.”
The health ministry also said HMPV infections are “not a cause for concern” as there has been no unusual surge in respiratory illnesses in the country, noting that India is well prepared for any surge. .
“Viral infection usually presents with mild and self-limiting symptoms, and most cases recover on their own,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Health organizations such as the United Nations’ World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not expressed concern about HMPV infections in Asia.
Sara Moniuszko contributed to this report.
