Hyderabad: While social media is buzzing with visuals of crowded medical facilities in China, neither the World Health Organisation nor China’s Centre for Disease Control Prevention has declared any emergency in the light of the outbreak of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV).
HMPV is a respiratory virus that causes flu-like illness that lasts two-five days.
“It primarily affects the upper and lower respiratory tract, causing symptoms similar to the common cold or flu,” explained Dr Ranga Reddy Burri, president, Infection Control Academy of India.
“While most infections are mild, HMPV can lead to severe respiratory illness in vulnerable populations such as young children, older adults, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Severe cases may result in pneumonia or bronchiolitis, though fatalities are rare,” Dr Burri added.
Dr Burri emphasised that many reports appear to be sensationalised narratives fuelled by social media posts rather than grounded in credible scientific evidence.
“HMPV is not a novel virus. It is a known virus and healthcare workers know how to deal with this,” he said.
Atul Goyal, director-general of health services, Union ministry of health and family welfare, assured that no HMPV cases had been reported in India yet.
In Telangana, the health department has been put on alert, said Dr Ravindra Nayak, director, public health. “The process for precautionary measures has been initiated. The Centre is in touch with the WHO and waiting for advice. If the central government gives any guidelines, we can go ahead with the measures. However, there is no emergency preceding these measures,” he told Deccan Chronicle.
Officials of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport also said there have been no advisories yet on screening of passengers from China.
