T’gana govt issues health advisory amid hMPV concerns
Hyderabad: Amid reports of outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) in China and given the concerns among the people, the Telangana government has issued certain guidelines to follow. The state health department has also stated that no case of hMPV has been reported in the state. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have downplayed the health scare as “winter occurrence.”
Dos:
Cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue paper, when you cough or sneeze.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer Avoid crowded places; stay at more than an arm’s length from persons affected with flu.
Stay away from public places if you have fever, cough and sneezing.
Drink plenty of water and eat nutritious food.
Adequate ventilation with outdoor air is recommended in all settings to reduce the transmission.
Stay at home and limit contact with others if you are sick.
Sleep well.
Don’ts:
Shaking hands
Reuse of tissue paper & handkerchief
Close contact with sick people
Frequent touching of eyes, nose & mouth
Spitting in public places
Taking medicines (self-medication) without consulting the physician.
What is HMPV?
Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) was first discovered in 2021. It belongs to the Pneumoviridae family, the same family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
hMPV is a respiratory virus that causes upper and lower respiratory infections and its symptoms are similar to a common cold or flu. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), young children and elderly are more vulnerable to this virus.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms associated with HMPV are similar to those of flu and other respiratory infections which include cough, fever, sore throat, nasal congestion and wheezing or shortness of breath. In severe cases, the patient may experience complications like bronchitis or pneumonia or asthma exacerbations.
How does it spread?
This respiratory virus spreads through droplets and therefore people have been advised to not cough and sneeze in public and also advised to use a handkerchief or cloth to cover mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing in public places. It can also spread through touching or shaking hands and through contaminated surfaces.
What are the tests recommended to diagnose it?
CDC said that the infection with HMPV can usually be confirmed by:
Direct detection of viral genome by nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT).
Direct detection of viral antigens in respiratory secretions using immunofluorescence or enzyme immunoassay.
Routine testing is rare unless symptoms are severe or there’s an outbreak.
𝐓’𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐌𝐏𝐕 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬
Amid reports of outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) in China and given the concerns among the people, the Telangana government has issued certain guidelines to follow. The state health… pic.twitter.com/355gS3ciSY
— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) January 4, 2025
