Following an HMPV outbreak in China, the NCDC is communicating with foreign organizations and keeping an eye on respiratory and seasonal influenza infections in India.
Indian Health Agency says there’s no reason to worry about HMPV spread in China.
A senior official from India’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr. Atul Goyal, has calmed the public amid mounting concerns over the spread of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China by stating that there is no immediate threat. People should take general precautions against all respiratory illnesses, Goyal suggested. “There is nothing to be alarmed about the present situation” , Goyal stated.
“Metapneumovirus causes the common cold much like any other respiratory virus. The elderly and very young may experience flu-like symptoms. We have examined national statistics on respiratory outbreaks. “There haven’t been any major outbreaks at our institutions, nor has there been a notable increase in cases reported in December 2024,” Goyal explained.
Dr. Goyal went on to say that although respiratory illnesses tend to increase in the winter, hospitals are equipped with the resources they need. He advised people to take simple precautions, such as avoiding close contact while exhibiting symptoms like a cold or cough, sneezing and coughing using different handkerchiefs or towels, and taking prescription drugs for fever and colds. He said, “Otherwise, there is nothing to be alarmed about the present situation.”
In the meantime, the Union Health Ministry’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) stated that it is working with foreign organizations and keeping a careful eye on the nation’s respiratory and seasonal influenza cases. According to an official source cited by news agency ANI, “We will continue to monitor the situation closely, validate information, and update accordingly.”
