Health officials in Puducherry urge public not to panic over hMPV cases in neighbouring States
Health officials in Puducherry urge public not to panic over hMPV cases in neighbouring States
The Health authorities on Wednesday urged the public not to panic over a few cases of the common Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) resurfacing in neighbouring States.
A press note issued after a high-level meeting at the Raj Nivas chaired by Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan to assess preparedness of the health system to tackle the respiratory virus, said that it had been prevalent in the community for over three decades.
Apart from the Union Government and the Health Ministry, the Puducherry Health department was also closely monitoring the situation. “The existing laboratory testing facilities and treatment centres are in a state of readiness in Puducherry,” said V. Ravichandran, Director of Health.
As per the advisory, any suspected case of Serious Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI), especially in children and elderly people, will be tested and swabs will be sent to Jipmer for testing. Arrangements are being made to conduct the testing in Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute (IGMC&RI), the press note said.
During the meeting, officials appraised the Lt. Governor of the current situation of the hMPV spread in India and precautions to be taken in Puducherry for preventing its spread in the community.
The Health department has ruled out any cause for worry as there was no sudden rise in similar respiratory cases in India and Puducherry. However, in view of the rise in number of cases in China, the health systems and surveillance networks of Puducherry have been instructed to be vigilant.
Chief Secretary Sharat Chauhan, Ashish Madhaorao More, Commissioner-Secretary and health officials attended the meeting.
