India keeps watch on HMPV: Health Ministry holds meeting on China’s respiratory illness spike
The meeting held on Saturday also concluded that the current surge in China is likely due to the usual respiratory viruses such as flu, RSV and HMPV.
“The 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 said in a statement. (AP/File)
The Union Health Ministry has convened a joint monitoring group and has sought timely updates from the World Health Organisation after reports of increasing cases of respiratory illnesses in China. Based on available information, the Joint Monitoring Group concluded that the situation in China is not unusual in view of the ongoing flu season — respiratory infections see a surge across the world during the winter months.
The meeting held on Saturday also concluded that the current surge in China is likely due to the usual respiratory viruses such as flu, RSV and HMPV.
HMPV or human metapneumovirus is similar to RSV — which is a common pathogen that leads to common cold — and leads to symptoms such as cough, fever, runny nose, and sore throat. It may sometimes lead to more severe symptoms like pneumonia among the very young and the elderly.
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