- By Nidhi Giri
- Mon, 06 Jan 2025 04:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
HMPV Cases In India: The Delhi government has directed all the hospitals in the national capital to remain fully prepared to manage a potential surge in respiratory illnesses after three cases of Human Metapneumovirus were detected in Karnataka and Gujarat on Monday.
In a directive marked "Most Urgent", Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj instructed the health and family welfare department to closely monitor the situation, and remain in constant touch with the Union health ministry for timely updates.
"Hospitals under the Delhi government must be fully equipped to handle any potential increase in respiratory illnesses, as advised by the Union health ministry," the directive issued by Bharadwaj said.
The health secretary has been tasked with inspecting three government hospitals daily, beginning with the largest facilities, and submit detailed reports on several key parameters, including availability of medicines as per the essential drug list, ICU beds, and the operational status of PSA oxygen plants and radiological equipment.
The hospitals are also required to ensure the availability of data entry operators at the OPD and IPD counters, besides adhering to the standard operating procedures for acute respiratory illnesses.
The directions came after the Union health ministry confirmed that the Indian Council of Medical Research had detected two cases of HMPV in Karnataka through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens.
HMPV In Karnataka And Gujarat
Three cases of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) were reported in India on Monday, amid a surge in such cases in China. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), two infants – eight-month-old and three-month-old tested positive for the virus in Bengaluru.
A third case was reported from Gujarat where a two-month-old child was diagnosed with the HMPV.
(With Agency Inputs)