Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Saturday stressed that it would be better if pregnant women, the elderly and the sick remained cautious and encouraged the use of masks even if the human metapneumovirus type Covid (HMPV), which is currently spreading in China, it is only a “winter phenomenon”, less serious and spreading on a smaller scale.
Incidentally, when the Covid pandemic hit the country in 2020, the first case was recorded in Kerala when a student who arrived from China tested positive.
Taking to his social media page, George said that although things are going well in China at the moment, adequate precautions need to be taken as a matter of extreme caution, IANS reported.
“Although no alerts have been reported in China, the incidence of influenza and pneumonia is increasing. Since Keralaites are present and traveling all over the world, it would be better if pregnant, elderly and sick people use masks,” she said.
George also noted that China has witnessed pandemics like SARS and Covid-19 and that is perhaps one of the reasons why it is huge that such things are being reported in the country.
“If necessary, our state-of-the-art laboratories are equipped to test samples for HMPV. We need to be aware and careful that international passengers who arrive here…if they have breathing problems, just be vigilant,” she added.
“It would be better if when children get sick they stay at home and breathing difficulties are also taken into account,” the minister said.
In 2020, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government’s efforts to combat Covid drew huge applause and contributed significantly to its retention in power in the 2021 Assembly elections.
Indian health officials also said there was no cause for concern amid several media and social media reports suggesting the virus was spreading rapidly in China, five years into the pandemic of Covid-19. Some even claim that hospitals and crematoria are overwhelmed.
“The spread of HMPV in China is like any other respiratory virus,” Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Atul Goel told media in New Delhi on Friday.
“There is no reason to be alarmed by the current situation,” he added.
The expert noted that the disease can cause “flu-like symptoms” in older people and very young children.
Dr. Goel said there is an increase in outbreaks of respiratory virus infections in winter anyway, for which hospitals are usually prepared with supplies and beds.
But there is “no significant increase in the December 2024 data on respiratory outbreaks in the country,” he added.
