Three cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) have been detected in India. An eight-month-old baby boy and a three-month-old baby girl tested positive for HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru. A case of HMPV was also reported in Ahmedabad where a two-month-old baby was diagnosed with HMPV.
The Karnataka Health Department did not give a confirmation, but sources informed Zee Business that they will send samples to Pune to determine the strain of the virus.
The HMPV virus found in India is different. However, there is no clarity that the virus reported in China and the difficulties found here are related, we need to wait for confirmation before commenting on the health source.
Details of both HMPV cases
According to the government statement, the details of the cases are as follows:
1. A 3-month-old female infant, was diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital, Bengaluru with a history of bronchopneumonia. He has since been released.
2. An 8-month-old male infant, tested positive for HMPV on January 3, 2025, after being admitted to Baptist Hospital, Bengaluru, with a history of bronchopneumonia. The baby is recovering now.
“It is important to note that the affected patients do not have a history of international travel,” the statement said.
3. First case of HMPV reported in Gujarat. A two-month-old baby is infected with HMPV Symptoms of cold and flu. The HMPV report was positive in the private lab. The child is from a village near Modasa.
Karnataka has held an emergency meeting
Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao held an emergency meeting with health department officials today at 12.30 PM to discuss safety measures.
This comes after reports of an outbreak of HMPV in China. The Chinese government, however, dismissed it as an annual winter event.
The Karnataka government on Monday assured that there is no reason to panic about the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) as it is already present in the country, after two cases were detected in Bengaluru.
According to the Union Health Ministry, none of the patients have a history of international travel.
“I don’t think we should press the panic button, because HMPV is not a new virus, it already exists. Reports suggest that it is the first case of HMPV in India, it is not true because HMPV is an existing virus, and a certain percentage of people are affected by this virus and it is not something new, ”said the provincial Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.
What is HMPV?
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a virus that often produces symptoms similar to the common cold. It usually causes upper respiratory infections, but it can also cause lower respiratory infections such as pneumonia, asthma attacks, or aggravate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). HMPV infection is most common in winter and early spring.
HMPV cases are suspected to be increasing in Malaysia. In 2024, 327 HMPV cases were recorded in the nation, a 45 percent increase from 225 in 2023. This increase coincides with reports of an increase in respiratory diseases in other countries, especially China.
Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry is monitoring the situation through all available surveillance channels. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will continue to monitor trends in HMPV prevalence throughout the year. The World Health Organization (WHO) already provides timely updates on the situation in China to inform further measures.
With input from agencies