The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has confirmed two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Karnataka as part of routine surveillance for respiratory viral pathogens, the Union Health Ministry announced on Monday.
A three-month-old female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia was diagnosed with HMPV at Bengaluru’s Baptist Hospital and has since been discharged.
Similarly, an eight-month-old male infant, also with a history of bronchopneumonia, tested positive for the virus on January 3 at the same hospital and is currently recovering, the ministry reported.
The ministry highlighted that neither of the infants had any history of international travel. It emphasized that HMPV, which is already in global circulation, has been linked to respiratory illnesses in multiple countries, including India.
According to data from the ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), there has been no unusual spike in influenza-like illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in the country.
The ministry assured that it is closely monitoring the situation through surveillance networks, with the ICMR continuing to track HMPV trends throughout the year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is also sharing updates regarding the situation in China, aiding India’s preparedness measures.
A recent nationwide drill has confirmed that India is well-equipped to manage any potential surge in respiratory illnesses, with public health interventions ready to be deployed if necessary.