The HMPV virus has finally made its way into India. The virus, which was earlier spreading in China, has now been detected in the country. Two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection were reported in Bengaluru, a city in southern India, on the same day.
However, it is yet to be confirmed whether this is the same variant of the virus as the one in China. Moreover, neither of the two children has any travel history. According to a report by Indian news outlet NDTV on Monday, January 6, the virus was detected in an 8-month-old child in Bengaluru earlier in the day. Later, the same virus was found in a 3-month-old infant.
The central government of India, however, claimed that there is no connection between the spread of HMPV in Bengaluru and the variant found in China.
Meanwhile, the 3-month-old infant has already been discharged from the hospital, while the 8-month-old is currently under medical care. Recently, the spread of a variant of this virus in China has raised concerns in India and other countries. India’s Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation.
On the other hand, following reports of two back-to-back infections, Karnataka’s Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao called an emergency meeting on Monday afternoon. The agenda of the meeting remains to be seen, but Karnataka’s Health Secretary Harsha Gupta has advised residents not to panic unnecessarily.
The health department has clarified that neither of the two infected children has traveled recently, making it unlikely that they contracted the virus in another country or region.
Health Secretary Gupta stated there is no need for concern regarding this virus. He added that HMPV is already present in India and emphasized that it is unclear if the virus has undergone any mutation. There is no information yet about the structure of the variant spreading in China. Therefore, it cannot be confirmed whether the infections in Bengaluru are linked to the Chinese variant or the usual HMPV. The secretary also mentioned that this virus has been seen in India in the past.
China, too, has urged other countries not to worry about the HMPV virus. They have categorized it as a seasonal infection and attributed the situation to “winter infections.” Similarly, the Indian central government has advised citizens not to panic.
It is worth noting that, according to China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HMPV infections significantly increased in the country between December 16 and 22. Hospitalization rates due to respiratory illnesses have also risen, surpassing those caused by COVID-19, rhinovirus, or adenovirus. This virus is most commonly observed in children aged 14 years or younger. While not a new infection, raising awareness about this virus is crucial.
HMPV Virus Finally Spreads to India, Two Children Infected
The HMPV virus has finally made its way into India. The virus, which was earlier spreading in China, has now been detected in the country. Two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection were reported in Bengaluru, a city in southern India, on the same day.
However, it is yet to be confirmed whether this is the same variant of the virus as the one in China. Moreover, neither of the two children has any travel history. According to a report by Indian news outlet NDTV on Monday, January 6, the virus was detected in an 8-month-old child in Bengaluru earlier in the day. Later, the same virus was found in a 3-month-old infant.
The central government of India, however, claimed that there is no connection between the spread of HMPV in Bengaluru and the variant found in China.
Meanwhile, the 3-month-old infant has already been discharged from the hospital, while the 8-month-old is currently under medical care. Recently, th…