Ranchi. The Health Department of Jharkhand has been alerted after receiving confirmed cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in four states of India. Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari said that the state government is keeping an eye on all the information related to HMPV. He said that health department officials have been asked to be prepared by assessing possible situations. We have not received any guidelines from the Central Government in this regard. As soon as any guideline comes, we will take necessary steps accordingly. Meanwhile, State Health Secretary Ajay Kumar Singh has asked civil surgeons, medical colleges and department officials of all the districts of the state to remain alert. The department has also issued an advisory regarding this as per the norms of the Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR). As a precautionary measure, all hospitals have been asked to increase beds and maintain the oxygen supply system. It says that this virus is not new. Such cases have happened before during winters too, there is no need to panic.
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In the advisory, it has been advised to use mask in crowded areas, clean hands from time to time with sanitizer, and avoid going to crowded areas. Dr. Manoj Kumar, Head of the Microbiology Department of RIMS Medical College, Ranchi, has assessed the preparations. He told that at present HMPV testing is not being done here, but as a precautionary measure an order for testing kit has also been placed. In this regard, a letter has been written to NIV Pune requesting it to provide the kit. He has clarified that there is no need to panic regarding this at the moment. This virus is not fatal, but there is a need to be cautious. Preparations are being made to start testing for HMPV at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital, Jamshedpur. RIMS microbiologist Dr Pooja Sahay said that the symptoms of HMPV are similar to Covid. People infected with this usually recover in five to six days.