New Delhi: India reported three cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) on Monday amid rising infections in China.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), two infants, aged eight months and three months, tested positive for the virus in Bengaluru, while a two-month-old child in Gujarat also contracted the infection.
All three children were hospitalized, with the three-month-old in Bengaluru later discharged. None of the cases had international travel history, although one child had recently visited Tirupati.
The ICMR confirmed the cases through routine surveillance. Karnataka’s Health Department verified the eight-month-old child’s case and informed the Union Health Ministry. An emergency meeting was convened by Karnataka’s Health Minister to address the situation.
The ICMR stated that HMPV, a globally circulating virus associated with respiratory illnesses, is not showing an unusual surge in India, as per data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
HMPV, first identified in 2001 in The Netherlands, is closely related to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Both share genetic similarities but exhibit distinct differences. Symptoms include flu-like manifestations, primarily affecting young children and the elderly.
Meanwhile, China attributed its surge in cases to seasonal winter patterns, dismissing broader concerns. India’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is monitoring respiratory and influenza cases, staying in touch with global agencies.
Health experts recommend standard precautions such as avoiding contact with infected individuals, following respiratory etiquette, and using over-the-counter cold and fever medicines to mitigate the spread of the virus.
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