Third Case of HMPV Reported in India, First in Gujarat
Ahmedabad: A two-year-old child from Rajasthan, residing in Chandkheda, Ahmedabad, has been diagnosed with Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), marking the third case of the virus in India. Civic officials confirmed the child was admitted to a private hospital with cold and cough symptoms and is now stable.
This new case comes after the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported two HMPV cases in Bengaluru on Monday. These involved a three-month-old girl and an eight-month-old boy, both diagnosed through routine surveillance.
"Both cases were identified through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens, as part of ICMR's ongoing efforts to monitor respiratory illnesses across the country," the Ministry said.
Both infants had bronchopneumonia, a form of pneumonia that affects the alveoli and bronchi in the lungs. The Ministry added, “While the baby girl has been discharged, the baby boy is now recovering. It is important to note that neither of the affected patients have any history of international travel.”
Responding to reports, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “We cannot call it the first case in the country. The virus already exists here. The individual may have been tested for this specific virus, and it has been detected, that’s all.”
The Ministry emphasized that HMPV is a globally circulating virus, already present in India, and cases have also been reported in Malaysia, China, and other countries. It reassured the public that “there has been no unusual surge in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in the country.”
The Ministry reiterated that India’s healthcare system is well-prepared to manage respiratory illnesses. “India is well-equipped to handle any potential increase in respiratory illnesses, and public health interventions can be deployed promptly if needed,” the statement read.
First identified in 2001, HMPV belongs to the Pneumoviridae family alongside the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). It commonly causes symptoms like cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.
The ICMR will continue to monitor HMPV trends throughout the year as part of its ongoing surveillance initiatives.
Rishika Verma is a graduate from Delhi University. She joined Medical Dialogues in 2023. Her interest lies in reporting health news, hospital updates, health updates, medical case studies, and advancements in healthcare, etc.