Pune Municipal Corporation prepares for ‘HMPV’ attack; isolation ward set up in Naidu Hospital, patients survey underway
Pune: The danger of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection is lurking. In this background, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has started taking measures.
Facilities have been set up in the Naidu Infectious Diseases Hospital for a 50-bed isolation ward and a 5-bed ICU. A survey has been launched to check patients with cough and cold symptoms.
The PMC Health Department is taking precautionary steps as per the guidelines provided by the State Government. The civic body has readied facilities in the Naidu Hospital after the Coronavirus pandemic for an infectious disease outbreak.
A 50-bed isolation ward facility has been set up in the Naidu Hospital. In the event of HMPV spread, the hospital is equipped with a 350-bed isolation facility. The PMC has also planned to take the help of private hospitals, where a 3,500-bed facility can be set up.
PMC Health Department Head Dr Nina Borade has issued instructions to municipal hospitals that they should register patients with cold and cough symptoms separately. Patients with such symptoms and their numbers will be monitored closely. It will be checked continuously if the number of patients is going up or whether they show other symptoms too. This will help the Health Department to take immediate measures.
Dr Borade said, “We are taking preventive measures against HMPV. The Health Department will survey patients with cough and cold. Moreover, a meeting of private doctors will also be held and they will be instructed to survey such patients.”
