No HMPV cases in Telangana, says director of Public Health

Telangana Health Department said no HMPV cases reported in the State, issues guidelines to prevent respiratory infections in the state.

Amid reports of a Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak in China circulating on various media platforms, the Telangana Health Department has assured the citizens that there is no cause for alarm within the State. According to an official statement issued by Dr. B. Ravinder Nayak, director of Public Health and Family Welfare, no cases of HMPV have been reported in the State so far.

The Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), Government of India, clarified that HMPV behaves similarly to other respiratory viruses. It typically causes common cold and flu-like symptoms during the winter months, particularly affecting younger and older age groups.

The Telangana Health Department has analysed respiratory infections in the State and it did not observe any substantial increase in the cases in December 2024 compared to 2023. As a precautionary measure, the department has issued a set of guidelines to safeguard against respiratory infections:

Dr. Nayak highlighted that the Health Department is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the NCDC and MoH&FW in New Delhi. Citizens were urged to remain vigilant but not to panic, as all necessary measures are being taken to ensure public health safety.