India has confirmed eight cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in children, with cases reported in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Tamil Nadu, and Ahmedabad. This comes amid rising respiratory illnesses globally, including a surge in China.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda has assured the public that there is no cause for alarm and ruled out the possibility of a COVID-19-like outbreak. “HMPV is not a new virus. It was first identified in 2001 and has been circulating worldwide for years,” Nadda stated.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently confirmed two cases in Bengaluru. At Bangalore Baptist Hospital, a three-month-old girl diagnosed with HMPV in December has fully recovered and been discharged. Another case involved an eight-month-old boy who tested positive for both HMPV and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). He was admitted with a minor injury and fever and is currently recovering.
In Mumbai, the first HMPV case was reported when a six-month-old baby admitted to the ICU last week tested positive for the virus. The infant is under medical care.
Health authorities are monitoring the situation and have urged the public to follow basic hygiene practices like regular handwashing and mask usage in crowded areas to prevent the spread of respiratory infections.
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