Health dept tells public not to panic
PANAJI
While India has confirmed three cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV)- two in Karnataka and one in Gujarat, the Goa government is awaiting instructions from the Centre.
The Health department, however, has asked public not to be panic.
Speaking to media persons on Monday, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said that the State has not yet received any guidelines from the Centre in regards to the HMPV virus. “We will follow all the directions of the Centre once issued,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Health Department is monitoring the ssituation. However, the health officials said that there is no need to panic
State Epidemiologist Dr Utkarsg Betodkar said that there is no reason to panic as HMPV virus is well-known & typically mild and has nothing to worry about.
He said that the virus has been known since 2001 and it is more prevalent during the winter season & behaves like the influenza virus or a common viral fever.
"Hence we request public not to panic," he added.
The Centre has written to the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding the protocols to be followed. Once there are Central directions, the State would take appropriate actions, Rane said.
The three cases are detected amid fears of the virus's spread, as China also recorded a surge in infections. All the cases have been detected in Children.
In a press statement issued by the Union Health Ministry, a three-month old female infant and eight month old male infant were the first two cases detected in Karnataka during routine surveillance. None of them had any history of international travel.
