NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Monday called upon the Centre to take immediate action on reports of a massive HMPV outbreak in China as he reminded the central government of the Covid 19 experience, which was not seen as a threat initially but eventually became a health emergency.
“The outbreak of the HMPV virus calls for immediate attention from the Centre. Drawing from our experience with Covid, it’s crucial to contain such cases early and be prepared to tackle what could potentially become another health emergency.,” he said.
Meanwhile, Delhi government instructed all hospitals in the capital to be fully prepared for a possible increase in respiratory illnesses after two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) were reported in Karnataka.
“Hospitals under the Delhi government must be fully equipped to handle any potential increase in respiratory illnesses, as advised by the Union health ministry,” the directive issued by Delhi health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said.
The health secretary has been assigned the responsibility of inspecting three government hospitals daily, starting with the largest ones, and submitting detailed reports on key aspects such as the availability of medicines from the essential drug list, ICU beds, and the operational status of PSA oxygen plants and radiological equipment.
Additionally, the hospitals must ensure the presence of data entry operators at both OPD and IPD counters and comply with standard operating procedures for managing acute respiratory illnesses.
So far, three cases of HMPV has been detected in India. Two are from Karnataka and one is from Gujarat.
The virus, believed to have originated in China, serves as a reminder of the Covid pandemic and has raised alarms worldwide. Beijing has expressed concerns over a rise in respiratory infections, which has resulted in overcrowded hospitals and strained healthcare systems.
