Dehradun: On Monday, the Directorate of Medical Health and Family Welfare issued an advisory to curb and manage respiratory diseases, including seasonal influenza and human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which is currently spreading globally.
This advisory underscores the importance of precautionary measures, healthcare facility preparedness, and public awareness to mitigate the heightened transmission risk during winter.
Uttarakhand | The Directorate General of Health, Uttarakhand has issued guidelines for the prevention of respiratory diseases like HMPV virus. pic.twitter.com/Vo0GKZrNll
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 7, 2025
No cases of HMPV have been reported in Uttarakhand
A formal announcement was made to all district magistrates and chief medical officers, pointing out that HMPV is spreading globally and is most active in the winter, presenting symptoms akin to the common cold and flu. Notably, no cases of HMPV have been reported in Uttarakhand as of now.
The winter season sees an increased transmission risk for respiratory diseases such as seasonal influenza (H1N1, H3N2), influenza-like illness (ILI), and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI). HMPV usually presents symptoms similar to the common cold and generally resolves on its own within 3 to 5 days. Thus, there is no cause for panic or misinformation about this illness, according to the advisory.
HMPV Precautionary Measures
The following guidelines are mandatory to prevent and protect against winter-related respiratory diseases, including HMPV:
- Hospitals must ensure the availability of adequate isolation beds or wards, oxygen beds, ICU beds, ventilators, and oxygen cylinders for treating influenza and pneumonia patients.
- Maintaining sufficient stocks of essential medicines and materials, such as PPE kits, N-95 masks, and VTM vials, is crucial.
- An adequate number of doctors and nursing staff must be ensured at all healthcare facilities, from medical colleges to primary health centers.
Patients showing symptoms of Influenza-like illness should be closely monitored
Patients showing symptoms of Influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) should be closely monitored at both hospital and community levels. Details of these patients must be entered into the integrated health information platform (IHIP) portal under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). If clusters of ILI or SARI cases are identified at the community level, testing facilities should be made readily available, and immediate control and prevention measures must be implemented.
The Rapid Response Team, formed under the IDSP program, is tasked with continuously monitoring any unusual situations arising from Influenza or pneumonia and taking prompt action to control them. The official release emphasized the importance of wide publicity through various platforms to raise public awareness about preventing the spread of influenza and pneumonia-related illnesses.
Guidelines recommend special care for children
The guidelines recommend special care for children, elderly individuals, and those with underlying health conditions. People are advised to use a handkerchief or tissue to cover their nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and to avoid crowded places. Maintaining hand hygiene with soap and water is crucial, as is consuming plenty of fluids and nutritious food. Those experiencing symptoms such as cold, cough, or fever are urged to seek medical advice and only take medicines as prescribed. Symptomatic individuals should maintain distance from healthy people to prevent transmission.
Practices to Avoid
-Avoid using used tissues or handkerchiefs.
-Refrain from shaking hands or coming into close contact with symptomatic individuals.
-Do not use medications without a doctor’s recommendation and avoid repeatedly touching the eyes, nose, and mouth.
-Spitting in public places should be avoided to minimize the risk of infection.
