New Delhi: Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases are seeing a rise in India with a total of three cases detected till now after a baby was reported positive in Gujarat on Monday after two infants were infected with the virus in Karmtaka’s Bengaluru.
A two-month-old boy tested positive for the HMPV at a private hospital in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, local authorities said, adding the baby’s condition is stable now.
A baby from Dungarpur, Rajasthan, was admitted to a hospital in Chandkheda, Ahmedabad, on December 24 with symptoms of a respiratory infection.
Following tests, the infant was diagnosed with Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), according to Bhavin Solanki, the in-charge medical officer of health for Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.
“The infection was detected on December 26, but we were informed today as the private hospital reported it late,” Solanki said. The infant was placed in isolation and initially required ventilator support. His condition is now stable, Solanki added.
HMPV cases in Bengaluru
This comes after two cases were reported from Bengaluru with a three and eight-month-old child testing positive. Notably, none of the babies or their family members have any foreign travel history.
The Karnataka government on Monday assured that there was no cause for alarm over the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) as it is already present in the country, after the cases were detected in Bengaluru.
A three-month-old female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia was diagnosed with Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) following her admission to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru. She has since been discharged, according to the health ministry.
An eight-month-old male infant, also with a history of bronchopneumonia, tested positive for HMPV on January 3 after being admitted to the same hospital. He is currently recovering.
The ministry highlighted that neither infant has any history of international travel. It reiterated that HMPV is already circulating globally, including in India, with cases of respiratory illness linked to the virus reported in multiple countries.
Current data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) indicates no unusual rise in influenza-like illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases across the country.
The ministry confirmed it is closely monitoring the situation through existing surveillance channels, while the ICMR will continue to track HMPV trends throughout the year. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is providing regular updates on the situation in China to guide ongoing precautionary measures.
HMPV cases in India: The Human Metapneumovirus cases have been reported from Karnatak and Gujarat with a total of three babies testing positive for the virus that has reportedly led to an outbreak in China. Health Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
