AIZAWL: In response to the outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China and the detection of five cases in India, the Mizoram government has constituted a 'Core Committee on HMPV' under the chairmanship of Health Minister Lalrinpuii.
Officials from the state health department confirmed on Tuesday that Rapid Response Teams have also been set up at both state and district levels to address the situation.
The decision to establish the committee was made during a meeting chaired by Lalrinpuii on Monday evening. According to officials, the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) is closely monitoring the situation, and there has been no unusual increase in cases of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) reported in the state so far.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and its affiliated laboratories have also reported no recent surge in cases of adenovirus, HMPV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or similar diseases, officials said.
The state government assured residents that it is well-prepared to handle any eventualities, with testing facilities for HMPV now operational at Zoram Medical College near Aizawl. “The health system and surveillance network are on high alert and fully equipped to handle any potential outbreak,” officials stated.
Healthcare authorities clarified that while HMPV is a known respiratory virus worldwide, including in India, it is generally not considered highly dangerous and is comparable to the common cold. “There is no cause for panic,” they emphasised.
Residents have been urged to cooperate fully with the ongoing Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) campaign, which aims to strengthen preventive measures against respiratory illnesses.
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