Delhi Hospitals on alert after HMPV cases detected in Karnataka

The Delhi government has issued an urgent directive for hospitals across the capital to prepare for a potential rise in respiratory illnesses following the detection of two Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in Karnataka.

Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has instructed the health and family welfare department to maintain constant communication with the Union health ministry for updates. The directive emphasized the need for all Delhi government hospitals to be fully equipped to handle a possible surge in respiratory cases, as advised by the Union health ministry.

To ensure preparedness, the health secretary will conduct daily inspections of three major government hospitals, focusing on key aspects such as the availability of essential medicines, ICU bed capacity, the operational status of PSA oxygen plants, and the functionality of radiological equipment. Hospitals must also ensure the presence of data entry operators at both outpatient (OPD) and inpatient (IPD) counters and adhere strictly to standard operating procedures for managing acute respiratory illnesses.

This directive follows the Union health ministry’s confirmation that the Indian Council of Medical Research detected two HMPV cases during routine surveillance for respiratory viruses in Karnataka. The first case involved a three-month-old female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia, who was diagnosed at Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru and has since been discharged. The second case was an eight-month-old male infant, also with bronchopneumonia, who tested positive for HMPV on January 3 and is currently recovering.

Minister Bharadwaj stressed the importance of monitoring respiratory illness trends in Delhi and responding promptly to any emerging issues. He directed that any urgent matters be reported immediately via phone to ensure swift decision-making.

The minister’s office highlighted that HMPV is already circulating globally, including in India, and cases of respiratory illnesses linked to the virus have been reported in several countries.