1 day Ago By Durgesh Nandan Jha and Nithya Mandyam
India reported Monday seven cases of human metapneumovirus ( HMPV ) infection in children - two each in Bengaluru, Nagpur and Tamil Nadu, and one in Ahmedabad -amid a surge in respiratory illnesses in China. However, Union health minister J P Nadda allayed concerns, saying the rise in cases won't lead to a Covid-like outbreak. "HMPV is not a new virus.
It was first identified in 2001, and it has been circulating around the world for many years," Nadda said. Experts said HMPV rarely requires hospitalisation, and timely intervention can prevent complications. Nadda said the health ministry, along with Indian Council of Medical Research and National Centre for Disease Control, was monitoring the situation in China and neighbouring countries.
"WHO has taken cognisance of the situation and will share its report shortly with us," he said. ICMR confirmed two cases at Bangalore Baptist Hospital. A three-month-old girl from Bengaluru, admitted with fever and cold in December, tested positive and has since recovered and been discharged.
The second case of HMPV, detected on January 3, involves an eight-month-old boy admitted for fever following an injury. He tested positive for both HMPV and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and is currently recovering. Both children have a history of bronchopneumonia and neither has travelled abroad, suggesting they contracted the infection locally.
A two-month-old from Dungarpur in Rajasthan was admitted to a private hospital in Ahmedabad on Dec 24 with respiratory illness and diagnosed with HMPV on Dec 26. Dr Bhavin Solanki of AMC said the hospital reported the case late, and the patient was isolated. Two children, aged seven and 13, tested positive at Meditrina Institute of Medical Sciences in Nagpur.
They were initially treated for suspected H1N1 (swine flu) with Tamiflu, but PCR tests confirmed HMPV on Jan 3. The kids recovered through outpatient treatment. Although the hospital reported the cases, Nagpur Municipal Corporation decided to re-test the samples at AIIMS Nagpur.
These cases were discussed in an ICMR video conference Monday. Tamil Nadu health secretary Supriya Sahu said the state has two active cases - in Chennai and Salem - and the condition of both is stable. "HMPV infections are self-limiting and resolve with symptomatic care, including adequate hydration and rest," she said.
First identified in 2001 in the Netherlands, HMPV causes illnesses from mild respiratory infections to severe conditions like bronchiolitis and pneumonia. In India, its prevalence varies between 1% and 19% across regions. Health minister Nadda said HMPV spreads through respiratory droplets and can affect all age groups.
"The virus spreads more during winter and early spring months," he said. "Our health systems and surveillance networks remain vigilant, ensuring the country is ready to respond promptly to any emerging health challenges. There is no reason to worry.
We are closely monitoring the situation," he assured. ICMR chair for disease elimination, Dr Rajni Kant, said HMPV is a known cause of respiratory illness in children and confirmed its presence in different parts of India. "ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Gorakhpur, tested respiratory pathogens in 100 under-five patients.
.. at BRD Medical College in 2022.
Out of 100 enrolled paediatric patients, four (4%) were found HMPV positive," Kant said. Karnataka health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the virus is likely a local strain unrelated to the outbreak in China. "Referring to any recent case as the 'first' is misleading.
I don't think we should be pressing the panic button." A Karnataka health official highlighted the potential severity of HMPV in vulnerable populations, particularly children under five, the elderly, and immunosuppressed people. "About 10% of adult patients admitted with pneumonia test positive for HMPV, and 4-6% of viral illnesses in children are caused by this virus," the official said.
Current data from ICMR and Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) confirmed no unusual surge in influenza-like illness or severe acute respiratory illness cases in the country. A five-month-old boy in Kolkata, who travelled from Mumbai, was the last known case of HMPV in Bengal requiring intensive care. He was admitted to a private hospital with symptoms such as high fever, diarrhoea, vomiting and respiratory distress.
After receiving breathing support for a week, he was discharged and is doing well. (Inputs from Sarfaraz Ahmed in Nagpur, Sumati Yengkhom in Kolkata).
