Context: As anxieties about respiratory disease outbreaks like HMPV are understandable in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic, science-based communication and response become even more critical for all sections of society.

Introduction - HMPV in Context:

• Discovery and prevalence:
  • Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), first detected in 2001, has been circulating in human populations for decades.
  • It is well-known to the medical community for its characteristics, prevention, and management.
• Current situation in India: Recent media attention has brought HMPV into focus, though detected cases remain within expected seasonal ranges and do not pose a significant threat.

Transmission and Symptoms of HMPV:

• Spread mechanism: HMPV spreads via droplets, infected surfaces, and physical contact such as handshakes.
• Incubation and symptoms:
  • Symptoms appear within 3-6 days of infection and include nasal congestion, sneezing, cough, breathlessness, fever, sore throat.
  • Severe cases, though rare, may affect infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.

Prevention and Management of HMPV:

• Precautionary measures: Key flu-season precautions:
  • Wearing masks.
  • Hand hygiene and avoiding face-touching.
  • Avoiding crowded areas, especially for vulnerable groups.
• Treatment: Symptomatic management includes:
  • Hydration, rest, warm fluids, paracetamol for fever.
  • Monitoring for severe symptoms like difficulty breathing or incessant coughing in high-risk groups.

India’s Preparedness and Surveillance to Deal with HMPV:

• Health infrastructure: The Indian healthcare system is equipped to manage HMPV using RT-PCR (Real-Time Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain) tests, though testing is generally unnecessary for mild cases.
• Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) role: Surveillance reveals HMPV caused approximately 3% of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases this season.
• Virus trends: Seasonal trends in virus circulation are monitored; there is no evidence of mutations in HMPV.

Key Comparisons - HMPV vs. SARS-CoV-2:

• Differences:
  • HMPV, unlike the novel SARS-CoV-2 (first detected in 2019), is well-studied with decades of global exposure.
  • HMPV (Pneumoviridae family) and SARS-CoV-2 (Coronaviridae family) belong to two very different virus families with fundamentally different characteristics and epidemiology.
  • Unlike SARS-CoV-2, strong seasonality is seen for HMPV.
• Severity: HMPV generally causes milder illness with minimal long-term effects, unlike SARS-CoV-2.

Lessons from the Pandemic:

• Government action: Proactive surveillance by the Ministry of Health, ICMR, and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) builds confidence in handling outbreaks.
• Preparedness goals:
  • Recommendations from NITI Aayog’s 2024 report stress pandemic readiness through investments in R&D for vaccines and strengthening emergency response mechanisms, which have been identified by the WHO.
  • This will help India to be fully prepared for future outbreaks, epidemics from known and emerging infections.
• Environmental considerations: Air pollution exacerbates respiratory illnesses like ILI and SARI, highlighting the urgency for a national, multi-sectoral response.

Conclusion - Stay Alert, Not Alarmed:

• HMPV cases in India are no cause for panic, given the virus’s well-understood nature and manageable impact.
• Proactive communication, robust surveillance, and addressing environmental drivers like air pollution remain critical for public health.