Two cases confirmed in Karnataka; patients have no history of int'l travel

The Union health ministry on Monday said that the Indian Council of Medical Research has detected two cases of Human Metapneumovirus HMPV in Karnataka through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens reported news agency PTIA threemonthold female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia was diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru She has already been discharged the Union health ministry said reported PTIAn eightmonthold male infant with a history of bronchopneumonia tested positive for HMPV on January 3 after being admitted to Baptist Hospital He is now recovering it saidIt is important to note that neither of the patients have any history of international travel the ministry underlinedIt emphasised that HMPV outbreak is already in circulation globally including in India and cases of respiratory illnesses associated with it have been reported in various countriesFurthermore based on the current data from Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR and Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme IDSP network there has been no unusual surge in influenzalike illness ILI or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness SARI cases in the country it addedThe ministry said it is monitoring the situation through all available surveillance channels The ICMR will continue to track trends in HMPV circulation throughout the yearThe World Health Organisation WHO is already providing timely updates regarding the situation in China to further inform the ongoing measuresThe recent preparedness drill conducted across the country has shown that India is wellequipped to handle any potential increase in respiratory illnesses and public health interventions can be deployed promptly if needed the ministry statedWellprepared to handle respiratory illnesses surveillance shows no unusual surge GovtIn the wake of recent reports of an HMPV outbreak in China India is keeping a close watch over the situation through all available channels and has also requested the WHO to share timely updates the Health Ministry said on SaturdayAs a precautionary measure the number of laboratories testing HMPV cases will be enhanced and the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR will monitor trends of HMPV for the entire year it saidA Joint Monitoring Group JMG meeting was held under the Chairmanship of the Directorate General of Health Services here on Saturday to discuss the situationExperts from the World Health Organization WHO the Disaster Management DM Cell Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme IDSP National Centre for Disease Control NCDC Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR Emergency Medical Relief EMR Division and from hospitals including AIIMSDelhi participated in the meetingAfter the detailed discussions and based on the currently available information it was agreed upon that the situation in China is not unusual in view of the ongoing flu season said the ministryThe reports also suggest that the cause of the present surge is Influenza virus RSV and HMPV the usual pathogens that are expected during the season according to the ministryThe government is keeping a close watch over the situation through all available channels and WHO has also been requested to share timely updates regarding the situation in China the ministry saidThese viruses are already in circulation globally including India the ministry said adding physicians from hospitals also confirmed there is no surge in respiratory illness cases over the last few weeks other than the expected seasonal variationWith inputs from PTI