Pune: Data from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) indicates that the Human Metapneumovirus or HMPV has not undergone any mutations and is genetically stable.
The city-based institute regularly conducts genome sequencing of HMPV. Between Jan and Dec 2024, three designated laboratories in the state — Pune’s NIV, Mumbai’s Kasturba Hospital and Nagpur’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) — tested over 1,500 samples from across Maharashtra for HMPV, which has been in existence for a while now. Of these samples, only 3% tested positive for the virus.
At present, there is no reported unusual surge in the community with respect to Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses (SARI) and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI), the state public health department has stated.
The unusual surge in HMPV cases in China over the past few weeks had led to panic in India, following which health officials at both the Central and state level have issued multiple circulars and notices to ensure stricter surveillance of viral infections.
Although HMPV is not a new virus and was already circulating within the community, the scare has forced govt to implement certain measures.
In the latest letter to all district collectors to ensure appropriate measures are in place, the state public health department noted that as of now, the virus is genetically stable and that there is no unusual surge reported during the intensified fever surveillance.
The letter dated Jan 10, 2025, from the state public health department secretary to all district collectors states that HMPV was first reported in 2001 and since then, it has been circulating in various parts of the world. Usually, infected patients report only mild symptoms, including cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, or difficulty in breathing. Preventive measures include washing hands, covering the mouth while coughing, and self-quarantine.
The letter instructs that in the case of any SARI samples of hospitalised patients, the samples must be tested for Seasonal Influenza, SARS CoV-2, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus. If the samples test negative for any of these common respiratory ailments, then they must be tested for HMPV, and if they test positive for the same, then they must be genome sequenced.
Pune: Data from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) indicates that the Human Metapneumovirus or HMPV has not undergone any mutations and is genetically stable.
The city-based institute regularly conducts genome sequencing of HMPV. Between Jan and Dec 2024, three designated laboratories in the state — Pune’s NIV, Mumbai’s Kasturba Hospital and Nagpur’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) — tested over 1,500 samples from across Maharashtra for HMPV, which has been in existence for a while now. Of these samples, only 3% tested positive for the virus.
At present, there is no reported unusual surge in the community with respect to Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses (SARI) and Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI), the state public health department has stated.
The unusual surge in HMPV cases in China over the past few weeks had led to panic in India, following which health officials at both the Central and state level have issued multiple circulars and notices to ensure stricter surveillance of viral infections.
Although HMPV is not a new virus and was already circulating within the community, the scare has forced govt to implement certain measures.
In the latest letter to all district collectors to ensure appropriate measures are in place, the state public health department noted that as of now, the virus is genetically stable and that there is no unusual surge reported during the intensified fever surveillance.
The letter dated Jan 10, 2025, from the state public health department secretary to all district collectors states that HMPV was first reported in 2001 and since then, it has been circulating in various parts of the world. Usually, infected patients report only mild symptoms, including cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, or difficulty in breathing. Preventive measures include washing hands, covering the mouth while coughing, and self-quarantine.
The letter instructs that in the case of any SARI samples of hospitalised patients, the samples must be tested for Seasonal Influenza, SARS CoV-2, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus. If the samples test negative for any of these common respiratory ailments, then they must be tested for HMPV, and if they test positive for the same, then they must be genome sequenced.
Recent Comments