‘No cause for concern, advises elderly, pregnant women to wear masks’: Kerala Health Minister amid HMPV outbreak in China

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], January 4 (ANI): Following the recent reports of an outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Saturday advised elderly, pregnant women to wear masks, adding there is no need to panic as of now.
"We should all pay attention to some things in the context of the news that there is a major outbreak of viral fever and pneumonia in China. There are no reports of any viruses that are likely to become a pandemic or spread very quickly to other areas in China at this time," George said.
She further said that since Malayalis are in all parts of the world, and expatriates from many parts of the world, including China, are coming to our country, we should be "cautious."
"According to the available information, three types of viruses can be the cause of the frightening respiratory infections in China. They are Human Metanpneumovirus (HMPV), some variants of Covid 19, and Influenza A virus infections. There are no reports of any of these having genetic mutations that could lead to a pandemic. However, as mentioned earlier, we should be cautious," she added.
The Health Minister said that infections, including human metapneumonia virus, are more likely to affect children and the elderly, so they, as well as those with other serious illnesses and people receiving palliative care, should be more cautious.
"Children should not be sent to school during illness. Those with respiratory symptoms should definitely use masks. There is currently no cause for concern. We are monitoring the situation in China," she said.
This development follows recent reports of an outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China.
"The data from December 16-22, indicates a recent rise in acute respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV), however, the overall scale and intensity of respiratory infectious diseases in China this year is lower than last year. A seasonal increase in respiratory pathogens is expected in the northern hemisphere, particularly during the winter period," official sources said after an update from WPRO.
Dr Arjun Dang, CEO, Dr Dangs Lab, said that the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak in China highlights the need for heightened surveillance and early detection mechanisms to curb its spread.
"The resurgence of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) underscores the ever-evolving challenges posed by respiratory viruses, particularly in high-density populations. HMPV, a relatively underrecognized pathogen, has been a silent contributor to seasonal respiratory illnesses globally. At Dr Dangs Lab, we have routinely reported cases of HMPV during flu seasons, particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems. This outbreak in China highlights the need for heightened surveillance and early detection mechanisms to curb its spread," Dr Arjun Dang said.
Dr Dang said that HMPV usually shows symptoms similar to other respiratory viruses and if the outbreak isn't quickly controlled, it can put a lot of strain on the healthcare system.
Dr Dang highlighted that "Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing remains the gold standard for diagnosing HMPV." (ANI)