New Delhi: Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO), has sought to alleviate concerns over the rise in Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases, even as India reports two new infections. In a social media post, Dr. Swaminathan reassured the public that there is no need to worry, emphasizing that HMPV is not a new virus and typically causes only mild infections.
Dr. Swaminathan, who has a background in public health, urged people to avoid panic over the detection of every new pathogen. She also shared practical precautions to reduce the risk of infection, such as regular hand washing.
Citing the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), she mentioned that HMPV accounts for approximately 3% of respiratory pathogens detected in laboratory networks that monitor influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI).
First identified in 2001, HMPV belongs to the Pneumoviridae family, alongside the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Symptoms of HMPV infection are generally mild and include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.
