New Delhi: The Indian government has requested the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide regular updates on the ongoing situation in China, where an increase in respiratory illnesses, primarily caused by the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), has prompted heightened vigilance in the neighboring country.
According to the Indian Health Ministry, a Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) meeting was convened in New Delhi on Saturday, chaired by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The meeting saw participation from experts from WHO, the Disaster Management Cell (DM Cell), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Emergency Medical Relief (EMR) Division, and leading hospitals, including AIIMS, Delhi.
In a statement, the Health Ministry noted that the rising cases in China are not unusual given the flu season. “Reports suggest that the current surge is driven by Influenza virus, RSV, and HMPV – typical pathogens during this time of year,” the Ministry explained.
The government is closely monitoring the situation using all available resources and has requested WHO to share timely updates on the developments in China. “These viruses are already circulating globally, including in India,” the Ministry added.
In India, the surveillance systems for Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) are robust, with both ICMR and IDSP networks actively monitoring trends. The Ministry stated that the data from these networks shows no unusual surge in ILI and SARI cases.
Regarding concerns of a potential spike in India, the Ministry reassured that healthcare providers have reported no unusual increase in respiratory illnesses in recent weeks, other than typical seasonal variations.
The rise of respiratory infections in China has sparked fears of another global health crisis similar to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, China has emphasized that it has been transparent in sharing information on COVID-19, despite WHO’s requests for more data and access to better understand the virus’s origins.
