SAS Nagar, January 08, 2025: Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain has appealed to the residents of the district not to panic in view of the updates coming in about Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) from other states or abroad.
After holding a review meeting with ADC (Rural Development) Sonam Chaudhary, Assistant Commissioner (G) Dr Ankita Kansal, Civil Surgeon Dr Sangeeta Jain and District Epidemiologist Dr Harman Brar in her office this afternoon, she said that surveillance of Flu cases is going on regularly and no case of HPPV virus has been reported so far. She said that the district has testing facility at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar College of Medical Sciences, Mohali, if required.
She said that according to the District Health Officers, no unusual increase in the cases of Influenza Like Illness or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) has been reported in the district.
While cautioning residents to be cautious in case of the most common symptoms like cough, fever, nasal congestion and shortness of breath and severe cases like bronchitis and pneumonia, the Deputy Commissioner said that as in case of common flu, we should avoid shaking hands and wash hands properly besides covering the face with a mask.
Civil Surgeon Dr Sangeeta Jain said that as per the State Health Department, this is not a new virus or an imminent pandemic, but as a preventive measure, we should follow Covid-19 precautions.