Amid rising concerns over an outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, two cases of HMPV have been detected in Karnataka. According to the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has detected two cases of Human Metapneumovirus. Union Health Ministry is monitoring the situation with all their available surveillance channels.
HMPV cases have been detected in a three-month-old female infant and an eight-month-old male infant. Both the infants are now recovering and neither of the affected patients have any history of international travel.
In a statement, the Ministry said, that HMPV is already in circulation globally, including in India, and cases of respiratory illnesses associated with HMPV have been reported in various countries. Both the cases in the country were identified through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens, as part of ICMR’s ongoing efforts to monitor respiratory illnesses across the country. Based on current data from ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme network, there has been no unusual surge in Influenza-Like Illness or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness cases in the country.
Amid rising cases of Human Metapneumovirus in China, the World Health Organization is providing timely updates regarding the situation in China. The Union Health Ministry said the recent preparedness drill conducted across the country has shown that the country is well-equipped to handle any potential increase in respiratory illnesses and public health interventions can be deployed promptly.
Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has called a meeting of his department officials to discuss developments after two cases of Human Metapneumovirus or HMPV cases were detected in Bengaluru. Speaking to media persons in the city today, the minister said that they are in touch with ICMR and all precautions are being taken to keep a tab on the contagious virus. Responding to a question, the minister said that there is no reason to believe that the HMPV virus found in the infants in Bengaluru is of the same variant found in China. He clarified that both the infants have no travel history and probably contracted the virus locally.
