Delhi Govt issues advisory to prevent HMPV Outbreak

New Delhi: The Delhi government on Sunday issued an advisory to enhance preparedness for potential health challenges related to the Human MetaPneumoVirus (HMPV) and other respiratory viruses.

According to a statement, Dr Vandana Bagga, Director General of Health Services, convened a meeting with chief district medical officers and the state programme officer of IDSP on Sunday to discuss preparedness to address respiratory illnesses in Delhi, news agency PTI reported.

As part of the recommendations, hospitals have been instructed to promptly report Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases through the IHIP Portal.

Medical Dialogues yesterday reported that three cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) have been detected on Monday—two in Bengaluru and one in Ahmedabad. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has detected two cases of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Karnataka with no travel history, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. 

Also Read:HMPV Outbreak in China: Closely monitoring Influenza cases in India, says Health Ministry

Strict isolation protocols and the use of universal precautions for suspected cases have been made mandatory.

Hospitals are required to maintain proper documentation of SARI cases and lab-confirmed influenza cases to ensure accurate monitoring.

They were directed to ensure the availability of paracetamol, antihistamines, bronchodilators, and cough syrups for treating mild cases, along with oxygen.

The recommendations come in the wake of reports of increased respiratory illnesses in China.

Updates from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) corroborate the absence of any significant surge in respiratory illnesses, according to data as of January 2, 2025, the statement said.

What is HMPV?

HMPV, discovered in 2001, comes in the Pneumoviridae family along with the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). However, serological studies have shown that it has existed in humans for more than 60 years and is distributed all over the world.

The virus can lead to upper and lower respiratory disease in people of all ages. Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are majorly affected.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms commonly associated with HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.

Also Read:HMPV Scare: Bengaluru reports 2 cases, Gujarat 1