Former chief scientist of WHO says there is no need to panic about HMPV
Former WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan has assured that human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is not a cause for concern, urging people to follow standard respiratory disease precautions rather than panic.
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO), has said that there is no reason to panic about HMPV. In a post on X, the researcher said that instead of focusing on detecting every pathogen that appears in the news, we should take standard precautions as for any respiratory illness.
“There is no need to panic about #HMPvirus. It is a known virus that causes respiratory infections, mostly mild. Instead of trying to track down every pathogen, we should all take the usual precautions when we have a cold: wear a mask, wash hands Wash your hands, avoid crowds, consult a doctor if severe symptoms occur,” he wrote.
Citing data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – India’s official medical panel – Dr Swaminathan said HMPV is one of several circulating pathogens along with influenza A and B that cause the common cold, SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19. and respiratory syncytial virus.
“According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, the #HMPV laboratory network is responsible for about 3% of respiratory pathogens found in tested ILI and SARI cases. Influenza A and B, SARSCoV2 and RSV are the other circulating viruses. There have been no deaths in India. Information is not far away,” her post read.
Amid the rising human metapneumovirus scare, ICMR issued a statement clarifying that HMPV is already in circulation across the world, including India.
“It is emphasized that HMPV is already prevalent globally, including in India, and cases of HMPV-associated respiratory diseases have been reported in various countries. Furthermore, ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) Based on current data from the network, ICMR said, there has been no unusual increase in cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) in the country.
HMPV is a single-stranded RNA virus that was first identified in 2001 by a research group in the Netherlands. However, some studies suggest that it may have been circulating in human populations as early as the 1970s. It comes from the Pneumoviridae family of viruses that affects the upper and lower respiratory tract, causing flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, fever, headache and shortness of breath.
While most cases of hMPV are mild, it can become serious if the infected person has a weakened immune system. This is why hMPV most often affects children and adults over the age of 65. If the severity is high, the virus can cause bronchiolitis or pneumonia. In severe cases, oxygen therapy helps in treatment.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda revealed that data from ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program shows that there has been no unusual increase in respiratory virus cases in India.
Doctors have urged the public not to panic and follow standard protocols to avoid any respiratory illness.
