New Delhi: Gujarat on Monday reported its first case of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), involving a two-month-old boy from Dungarpur, Rajasthan.
According to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, the infant is in stable condition and remains isolated for monitoring.
This case marks the third confirmed HMPV case in India.
Two HMPV cases in Bengaluru
Earlier on Monday, two HMPV cases were confirmed in Bengaluru, Karnataka, as part of ICMR’s ongoing respiratory pathogen surveillance.
The first case involved a three-month-old female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia. She was admitted to Baptist Hospital, treated, and subsequently discharged. The second case, detected on January 3, 2025, involved an eight-month-old male infant, also admitted to Baptist Hospital with a similar medical history. This infant is currently recovering and in stable condition.
Notably, neither of the cases in Bengaluru had any history of international travel, indicating the infections were locally acquired and unrelated to the surge in China.
Vigilance amid rising HMPV Cases concerns
The detection of this case comes as health authorities across India step up vigilance against respiratory illnesses, particularly in light of a recent surge in HMPV cases reported in China. However, the Union Health Ministry has assured the public that there is no need to panic. Robust surveillance systems, including those operated by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), are in place to monitor respiratory illnesses across the country.
Health Ministry’s preparedness and assurance
The Health Ministry has emphasized that HMPV is not a new virus and is already circulating globally, including in India. The ministry noted that data collected through ICMR and IDSP has not indicated any unusual surge in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in India.
The Ministry continues to monitor the situation through available channels and is in communication with the World Health Organization (WHO) to stay updated on developments in China. The ICMR has also committed to tracking HMPV circulation trends year-round and increasing laboratory testing capacity.
Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common respiratory virus known to cause upper respiratory infections. It primarily affects children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Though the virus is not known to cause pandemics, its symptoms can sometimes lead to complications in vulnerable groups.
