Anantapur:The AP areas bordering Karnataka, in Satya Sai district, have been sounded alert following detection of two positive cases of HMNV (Human Metapneumovirus) in Bengaluru city.
The alert was issued on Monday in view of the spread of Covid-19 virus from the Karnataka border region to AP during the epidemic's outbreak in 2020.
The Devanahalli International Airport on NH 44 road is just 80km away from the AP borders and a majority of the travellers from Rayalaseema region rely on the airport for both domestic and international travel. However, Karnataka health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao denied any spread of the virus from other countries. The two children linked to the positive cases had no history of international travel, he said.
He said the virus was not new to the country and there was no need for panic.
Nevertheless, the Centre has alerted all states to take necessary precautions as also steps to keep people away from infections as the virus can spread from person to person, like Covid 19.
Notably, Covid-19 first spread from the Gowribidanur taluk headquarters, located on the AP borders and then reached the Hindupur town of Satya Sai district, and soon to other districts in AP.
Anantapur DMO Dr EB Devi said no HMPV cases were reported in the state so far. But she advised resort to disinfection methods that were applied during the Covid pandemic. “Normally, the virus impact will be severe on children and old-aged people and they need to follow the norms. Respiratory problems along with throat infections and other symptoms will be found from 3 to 10 days after the infection,” she observed.
Hospitals in the state were also put under alert, asking them to provide necessary medical aid. There is no vaccine and treatment against the virus and the only way is to provide artificial respiration and antibiotics to improve the health condition of the patients, she said.
