The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has identified two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Karnataka during routine checks for respiratory viruses, the Union health ministry announced on Monday. The first case involves a three-month-old girl with a history of bronchopneumonia who was diagnosed with HMPV at Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru. She has since been discharged.
The second case is an eight-month-old boy, also with a history of bronchopneumonia, who tested positive for HMPV on January 3 after being admitted to the same hospital. He is currently recovering.
The health ministry noted that neither child had traveled internationally, indicating local transmission. HMPV is already present worldwide, including in India, and has been linked to respiratory illnesses in various countries.
According to data from ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), there has been no unusual increase in influenza-like illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in India.
The ministry assured that it is closely monitoring the situation through all available surveillance systems. ICMR will continue to track HMPV trends throughout the year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is providing updates on the situation in China to help guide ongoing measures. A recent preparedness drill across India showed that the country is ready to handle any potential rise in respiratory illnesses, with public health interventions ready to be deployed if necessary.
