Awareness drive on HMPV at Rohtak PGI

The Department of Community Medicine of Pt Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, launched an awareness campaign on the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) at the local PGIMS.

The PGIMS Medical Superintendent, Dr Kundan Mittal, stated that preparations to tackle HMPV cases were made and beds were allocated for the purpose.

Under the awareness drive, people coming to the PGIMS OPDs were instructed not to take common cold and sore throat lightly.

Dr Neelam Kumar, head, Department of Community Medicine, pointed out that the people infected with this virus show symptoms such as common cold and flu.

She disclosed that nearly 15 cases of HMPV were found in the country so far, adding that no person infected with the virus were found in Haryana.

Making people aware about the virus in the OPD, Dr Varun Arora, a professor of Community Medicine, informed that HMPV was similar to other respiratory viruses and was first identified in 2001.

Dr Arora said we should take precautions such as maintaining hand hygiene and social distancing, using masks and having a healthy diet and regular physical exercise to prevent ourselves from the virus.

Dr Narender Kumar, a resident doctor at the Community Medicine Department, told the people that if they noticed symptoms of cold and flu, they should consult the ENT Department at the PGIMS and serious patients should visit the C-block.