Prepared to face respiratory diseases, the government confirms the absence of an unusual wave

The number of laboratories testing for HMPV cases will be increased.

New Delhi: Following recent reports of an outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, India is closely monitoring the situation through all available channels and has also requested WHO to provide timely updates, said the Ministry of Health on Saturday.

As a preventive measure, the number of laboratories conducting tests for HMPV cases will be increased, and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will monitor HMPV trends throughout the year, a he indicated.

A meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) was held under the chairmanship of the Directorate General of Health Services on Saturday to discuss the situation.

Experts from World Health Organization (WHO), Disaster Management Cell (DM), Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP), National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research Unit (ICMR), Emergency Medical Rescue Unit (EMR) as well as hospitals such as AIIMS-Delhi participated in the meeting.

After in-depth discussions and based on currently available information, it was agreed that the situation in China is not exceptional in view of the current flu season, the ministry said.

Reports also indicate that the cause of the current increase is the influenza virus, RSV and HMPV, common pathogens expected during this season, according to the ministry.

“The government is closely monitoring the situation through all available channels and WHO has also been requested to share timely updates regarding the situation in China,” the ministry said.

These viruses are already circulating globally, including in India, the ministry said, adding that hospital doctors have also confirmed that there is no increase in cases of respiratory diseases in recent weeks, apart from expected seasonal variations.

A robust surveillance system for influenza-like respiratory illnesses (ILIs) and influenza-related severe acute respiratory illnesses (SARIs) is already in place in India through the ICMR and IDSP networks, and Data from both systems does not indicate any unusual surges, the ministry said.

The ICMR network is also testing other respiratory viruses such as Adenovirus, RSV, HMPV, etc., which are also not showing any exceptional increase in the tested samples, according to the ministry.

Data from recent preparedness exercises conducted across the country indicates that India is well prepared to deal with any increase in respiratory diseases, the ministry said.

Health systems and surveillance networks remain vigilant, ensuring the country is prepared to respond quickly to any new health challenges.

Good to know

• HMPV is a virus commonly associated with respiratory infections, especially in young children and immunocompromised individuals.
• Continuous monitoring is essential to quickly detect any increase in viral infections.
• WHO’s role in communicating public health information is crucial to coordinating international response efforts.

India’s preparedness for respiratory diseases raises the question of the responsiveness of health systems to possible future threats. In an interconnected world, where viruses can quickly cross borders, vigilance and international cooperation seem more necessary than ever to anticipate and manage emerging epidemics.

• Source image(s) : www.india.com
• Source : https://www.india.com/news/india/hmpv-alert-in-india-well-prepared-to-handle-respiratory-illnesses-surveillance-shows-no-unusual-surge-says-government-7514714/