No unusual rise in respiratory illnesses, influenza cases in India ...

The recent surge of cases of respiratory illness in China is not unusual in view of the ongoing flu season, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday, following a meeting of the joint monitoring group convened to review the situation. There has been no unusual rise in respiratory illnesses or influenza cases in Indian hospitals, it said.

The reports from China suggest that the cause of the present surge in cases there are Influenza viruses -- Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) -- which are expected during the season, the Ministry said in a statement.

Noting that it is keeping a close watch over the situation through all available channels, the Ministry added that it has requested the World Health Organization (WHO) to share timely updates regarding the situation in China.

‘No unusual surge’

“These viruses are already in circulation globally including India. A robust surveillance system for Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) for Influenza is already in place in India and the data from both indicates no unusual surge in ILI & SARI cases. Physicians from hospitals also confirmed that there is no surge in respiratory illness cases in the last few weeks other than the expected seasonal variation,’’ it said.

The Health Ministry added that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) network also tests for other respiratory viruses such as Adenovirus, RSV, HMPV etc. and these pathogens also do not show an unusual increase in the tested samples. As a precautionary measure, the number of laboratories testing for HMPV will be enhanced by ICMR, and ICMR will be monitoring trends of HMPV for the entire year.

Data from the recently conducted preparedness drill across the country indicated that India is well prepared to deal with any increase in respiratory illnesses, said the Ministry.

The meeting saw the participation of top experts from the Health Ministry, WHO, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, National Centre for Disease Control, ICMR and doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi.

Also read: Kerala watchful as influenza, HMPV surge in China

No antiviral treatment

“Human metapneumovirus is a respiratory virus that can cause infections ranging from mild colds to severe respiratory distress. While it can affect anyone, young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk,’’ said Anusuya Shetty, consultant, Internal Medicine, Apollo Medical Center, Koramangala.

Dr. Shetty added that symptoms include coughing, temperature, nasal congestion, sore throat, and shortness of breath. “Currently, there is no specific vaccine or antiviral treatment for hMPV. Treatment primarily focuses on symptom relief, such as rest, hydration, over-the-counter medications, and in severe cases, supplemental oxygen,’’ she said.