Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain has appealed to the district residents not to panic in the wake of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) updates from other states or abroad. After having 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, this afternoon at her office, she said that the surveillance of flu cases is regularly going on and there is no case of HPMV virus reported so far.
She said that the district has a testing facility with Dr B R Ambedkar College of Medical Sciences, Mohali, in case we need it. She said that as per the district health officials, there is no unusual surge in Influenza-Like Illness or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in the district.
While cautioning residents of taking care of the most common symptoms such as Cough, Fever, Nasal congestion and Shortness of breath and in severe cases such as Bronchitis and Pneumonia, the Deputy Commissioner said that in case of normal flu, we should avoid handshaking and take proper hand-washing besides covering 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 all the COVID-19 precautions.