2 HMPV Cases In Infants Reported In India With No Travel History: Health Ministry

Both cases were identified through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens.

Both of them have no history of international travel but have a history of bronchopneumonia.

Source : ABPLIVE AI

India has reported two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) and both the patients are from Bengaluru, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Monday. Those who have tested positive are a three-month-old girl and an eight-month-old boy, and both were admitted to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru, it added.

Both cases were identified through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens, as part of the Indian Council of Medical Research's ongoing efforts to monitor respiratory illnesses across the country.

Both of them have no history of international travel but have a history of bronchopneumonia. The girl has been discharged, while the boy is now recovering, the ministry said in a statement. 

HMPV Already In Circulation Globally: Govt

The government 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. Furthermore, based on current data from ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network, there has been no unusual surge in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in the country.

The reported increase in Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in China and other countries, including Hong Kong and Malaysia, has sparked global concern. The HMPV results in symptoms similar to those caused by common viral infections, such as influenza, RSV, or the common cold.

HMPV symptoms mimic those of the common cold or flu, making differentiation based on symptoms alone unreliable. "Symptom-based identification is unreliable, but, during an outbreak of HMPV in the community, targeted testing can confirm the infection," Dr Sourabh Pahuja said.

"This approach is similar to how we monitored and tested for Covid-19 during the pandemic. By identifying trends in the community and leveraging diagnostic tools, we can accurately pinpoint the cause of viral infections," he said.