Infection among Ccpur kids identified as RSV: Dr Rajo
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 28 2021: Manipur Health Services director Dr K Rajo has said that the outbreak of an 'unknown disease' among children in Churachandpur district has been confirmed to be Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) .

Speaking to media persons at the Lamphelpat office of the health directorate office on Thursday, Dr K Rajo informed that he along with a medical team and state surveillance officers visited Churachanpur district on October 21 to take stock of the outbreak that began since September.

In all, 13 samples from the district were sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune and the results arrived on Wednesday.

Of the samples sent, 12 were confirmed as RSV, he conveyed.

Pointing out that RSV infection is being detected for the first time in the state, Dr Rajo said that the virus is not life threatening as it does not spread like an epidemic and moreover the infected children have all recovered.

As per medical journals, (RSV causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract.

It's so common that most children have been infected with the virus by age two years.

In adults and older, healthy children, RSV symptoms are mild and typically mimic the common cold.

Self-care measures are usually all that's needed to relieve any discomfort, the journals mention, adding that RSV can cause severe infection in some people, including babies 12 months and younger (infants), especially premature infants, older adults, people with heart and lung disease, or anyone with a weak immune system (immunocompromised).

Regarding the cases of dengue, Dr Rajo informed that 35 cases have been confirmed in seven districts of the state, including 22 cases in Imphal East, two each in Imphal West, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi and one case each in Chandel and Tamenglong and five in Thoubal.

In Imphal East district, Chingmeirong area is the hotspot, he said while clarifying that there is no report of any of the patients undergoing treatment in critical condition.

Urging the people to remain calm, Rajo said that the government has been taking up fogging, larvicide and other necessary precautionary measures.

While observing that Covid-19 positivity and fatality rate in the state is decreasing, he highlighted the need for strict adherence to the safety protocols until the infectious disease could be completely eradicated.

On the other-hand, in view of the upcoming festivals, he exhorted the people to maintain Covid-19 appropriate behaviour strictly.

Necessary preventive measures have also been taken up at Mao and Jiri entry points as well as at Tulihal airport to detect the new AY.4.2 variant of Covid-19 from those entering the state.

No AY.4.2 variant has been detected till now in genome sequencing 2251 samples, he added.

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