The Delhi government issued an urgent directive on Monday, instructing all hospitals in the capital to be fully prepared for a potential rise in respiratory illnesses after two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) were detected in Karnataka.
Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj emphasized the need for the health and family welfare department to closely monitor the situation and maintain regular communication with the Union health ministry for timely updates.
"Hospitals under the Delhi government must be fully equipped to handle any potential increase in respiratory illnesses, as advised by the Union health ministry," the directive issued by Bharadwaj said.
The health secretary has been assigned the responsibility of inspecting three government hospitals daily, starting with the largest ones, and submitting detailed reports on key aspects such as the availability of medicines from the essential drug list, ICU beds, and the operational status of PSA oxygen plants and radiological equipment.
Additionally, hospitals are required to ensure that data entry operators are present at both OPD and IPD counters, while also following the standard operating procedures for managing acute respiratory illnesses.
The directions came after the Union health ministry confirmed that the Indian Council of Medical Research had detected two cases of HMPV in Karnataka through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens.
The first case involved a three-month-old female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia, who was diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru. She has since been discharged.
The second case involved an eight-month-old male infant, also with a history of bronchopneumonia, who tested positive for HMPV on January 3 at Baptist Hospital. He is currently recovering, according to the ministry.
"It is important to track the trends in respiratory illnesses across the national capital and act promptly on any issues requiring attention. Any matter needing immediate decisions should be reported directly over phone," Bharadwaj said in the directive.
The minister's office highlighted that HMPV is circulating globally, including in India, and respiratory illnesses related to the virus have been reported in various countries.
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