Aizawl: In response to the detection of three Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in India, the Mizoram government has established a core committee to review the situation and monitor the spread of the virus.
The committee was set up following a meeting which was chaired by Health Minister Lalrinpuii.
Notably, Mizoram Health and Family Welfare Department’s integrated disease surveillance programme (IDSP) has been keeping a close watch on the situation arising out of the HMPV outbreak in China and the detection of cases in the country.
The Health Minister also directed the formation of a Rapid Response Team at the state level to track developments in all districts of Mizoram.
The IDSP also issued a public notice informing citizens that while HMPV is a respiratory disease that has appeared globally in previous years, there have been no recent reports of influenza-like illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) in the state.
The IDSP emphasized that there was no need for panic, as the health department and surveillance network are diligently monitoring the situation.
A directive has been issued by the Health Department to all hospitals, including both government and private institutions, mandating the daily submission of reports on any identified cases of ILI and Severe SARI to facilitate ongoing surveillance.
In addition, the state’s Pneumonia Control Programme and SAANS campaign are being implemented across Mizoram to curb respiratory infections.
IDSP state nodal officer Dr. Rengpuia said that the IDSP has been in close contact with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the outbreak.
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“There is a reporting mechanism on infectious diseases and the state IDSP has been receiving reports on a daily basis. There have been no reports of a surge in respiratory infections akin to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) at present,” he said.
Rengpuia said that future course of action will depend on instructions and advisories from the centre as well as the situation in neighbouring states.
