Delhi Health Authorities Issue Advisory On Preparedness For Respiratory Illnesses, Including HMPV

Delhi health authorities have issued an advisory to bolster preparedness against potential health challenges posed by the Human MetaPneumoVirus (HMPV) and other respiratory viruses.

The advisory follows a meeting convened by Dr Vandana Bagga, Director General of Health Services, with chief district medical officers and the state programme officer of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) on Sunday (5 January).

As part of the recommendations, hospitals have been directed to promptly report cases of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) Portal.

Hospitals have also been instructed to ensure strict isolation protocols and the use of universal precautions for suspected cases.

The advisory emphasises maintaining accurate documentation of SARI cases and laboratory-confirmed influenza cases to facilitate accurate monitoring.

To manage mild cases, healthcare facilities have been asked to ensure the availability of essential medications such as paracetamol, antihistamines, bronchodilators, and cough syrups, alongside oxygen supplies.

These measures come in response to reports of rising respiratory illnesses in China.

However, updates from the IDSP, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate no significant surge in respiratory illnesses as of 2 January 2025.

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