Preventive measures should be taken for public health
(Dr. N. Khaleel)
There is a big difference between being afraid and being careful. Measures should be taken to control and prevent any virus that may attack public health. Advice given by medical professionals including Govt Instructions must be followed. But intimidation and fear in the name of precautions are not equal. Currently, the news that HMPV (Human Metapneumo Virus) which came to light in China has entered India is disturbing. It is said that it is expanding to some other countries which are China’s neighbors. It is said that this virus spreads more in countries with cold regions, and despite strict measures in China, the virus continues to infect. The same virus has recently spread to India. The first cases were detected in Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This opened up a nationwide debate. But the central government says that people should not worry about this.
Two children in Bengaluru were found to be infected with this virus in a private hospital. In fact, a three-month-old girl and a nine-month-old boy were admitted to the hospital by family members with respiratory problems. The presence of HMPV among them came to light during routine health tests. But the three-month-old child has already been discharged from the hospital and the other is recovering, said the sources.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced that these are the first cases of HMPV in the country. In Chennai, two more babies were found infected with the virus. Although they were admitted to the hospital with cold, fever, cough, etc., their samples were collected and tested. A two-month-old baby belonging to Rajasthan was admitted to a hospital in Gujarat and Ahmedabad in the last week of last month, and yesterday Monday it came to light that the baby was infected with the disease. There is no record of any of the family members of these babies traveling abroad. But how do they have this disease? From where it is infected remains an elusive question. Even the medical experts are not able to give clear information on this. However, Union Health Minister JP Nadda announced on Monday that this virus is nothing new and there is no need for anyone to fear. He explained that the health department along with ICMR and NCDC departments are thoroughly examining the situation. In fact, this virus was identified in 2001, and it has been around for many years.
It is said that it continues to infect all over and spreads through air and breathing process. He said that it can infect people of all ages. It has been made clear that the outbreak is especially high in winter and early spring in China. But when the relevant departments reviewed the data of respiratory viruses in our country, it was clarified that there is no increase in common pathogenic viruses. However, he declared that the country’s health systems and surveillance networks are alert. On the other hand, the Director General of Central Health Services announced that the hospitals are ready with necessary medical supplies, beds and other facilities to deal with respiratory related seasonal cases. People have been appealed to take proper precautions and maintain personal hygiene in winter.
But various news about this virus is coming out on social media. Some claim to be doctors with superficial knowledge, but the propaganda of some is worrying the innocent. Especially during the outbreak of the Corona virus, it spread and got out of control because the rulers did not pay much attention in the beginning. The problems faced by the people on that day were not all. This sector is not that sector. It has an impact on all sectors. After the end of the war on Corona, everyone is worried about how to face the financial crisis. Corona also originated in the city of Yuhan in China and spread to the countries of the world like water under the carpet. By January 20, 2020, the world came to know about this as it exploded on the people.
The first case related to India was reported in the last week of January in the state of Kerala. They could not have imagined that it was showing such intensity. By the third of March, however, the center could not determine the severity of the disease. Medical experts are of the view that if action had been taken right after the meeting in Delhi, the damage would not have been so heavy. Medical experts say that the HMPV virus that has entered the country is not that dangerous, but the ruling elders are expressing fear due to the threat created by Corona. Some brokers and fake doctors are doing various campaigns to make money. There is a need to strengthen the infrastructure of the medical sector in the government not only to protect them from health and financial loss.
(Author is a Pharmacy specialist)
