Bhubaneswar: The Centre has yet to issue specific guidelines for treating Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections, according to Bijay Kumar Mohapatra, Special Secretary of the Health Department. He informed on Sunday that a technical advisory group, formed by the Union Health Ministry and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), is working on formulating these guidelines.
Despite this, Mohapatra assured that Odisha is fully prepared to handle HMPV cases. “There is no specific treatment for HMPV infections. Symptoms like cough, cold, and fever may escalate to pneumonia, which is managed similarly to other viral infections. All health facilities in the state are stocked with essential medicines and oxygen supplies, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
The Health Department has called a crucial meeting on Wednesday to address concerns and assess district-level preparedness for potential HMPV cases. Chief District Medical Officers (CDMOs) are expected to participate in the discussions.
HMPV, first identified in the Netherlands in 2001, spreads through airborne droplets or contact with contaminated surfaces, particularly during winter and early spring. However, doctors have reassured the public that HMPV is not akin to COVID-19 and does not pose a pandemic threat.
Recent reports show a decline in HMPV infections in northern China, which had experienced a surge in cases. India has reported 17 cases so far, with five in Gujarat, three in Maharashtra and Kolkata, and two each in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Single cases have been recorded in Assam and Puducherry.
No cases of HMPV have been detected in Odisha so far.
