Union Health Minister JP Nadda has said, “There is no need to worry about it, and we are closely monitoring it” on Monday. He said that it is not a new virus and it was first identified in 2001. He said that India is fully prepared and all the necessary steps are being taken.
The HMPV virus was discovered in China, and 3 patients have been identified in India currently; persons infected with it were found in Karnataka, Kolkata, and Gujarat.
Nadda further said, “Experts have clarified that HMPV has been spreading all over the world for many years. It spreads through the air, and it can affect people of all ages. This virus spreads normally in the winter season and the early months of the seasonal changes.”
As per the recent reports, HMPV cases in China, the Ministry of Health, ICMR, and National Center for Disease Control are keeping a close watch on the situation in China as well as neighboring countries.
Nadda, in a statement, said, “A joint monitoring group chaired by the Director General of Health Services met on Jan 4 to review the situation. The country’s health systems and surveillance networks are on alert, ensuring that the country is prepared to respond immediately to any emerging health challenges in the future.”
