FGS, DO NOT HIT THE PANIC BUTTON, BENGALURU!

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: With two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) detected in Karnataka, the state's Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday said there is no need to panic as the infections that have been detected are by old virus strains that are existing in the country and they are not life-threatening. The minister who chaired a meeting of health department officials said the two infected infants are doing "normal", and advised people to follow general precautionary measures.

The Indian Council of Medical Research has detected two cases of HMPV in Karnataka through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens, the Union Health Ministry earlier said on Monday, adding that neither of the patients had any history of international travel. "Two children who are infected by HMPV are at Baptist hospital in Bengaluru. One is the three-month-old, who has already been discharged in December, and the other is an eight-month -old who is likely to be discharged by tomorrow. They are both normal," Rao said. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, "Fearing about it (cases), having apprehensions that wearing of masks will be enforced and there will be lock down there is nothing of that sort. There is no such thing as of now. The central government and ICMR are in touch with us.

There will be a meeting of microbiologists and other experts about any further precautions that need to be taken." Requesting the media not to create unnecessary fear, the minister said, "there are general dos and don'ts that have been advised, like in case of symptoms, take precautions, keep your hands clean by washing them often, avoid crowded places among others. There is no need to worry." "The HMPV that has been detected is an old virus that is existing in the country and these virus strains are not life threatening," he said, adding that the virus that has caused some kind of outbreak in China is being monitored by the central government.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said he has directed the health and medical education departments to take all the precautionary measures. "There is information on HMPV or China virus infection in Karnataka. I have instructed the health department to take precautionary measures, I have also spoken to Dinesh Gundu Rao. We Health and Medical Education departments will take all the precautionary measures to control it," Siddaramaiah said. "Though it is not a dangerous virus, precautionary measures need to be taken," CM added.