ICMR Confirms Two Cases of HMPV in Bengaluru, Media Reports a Third in Gujarat
On Monday, the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) announced that it has confirmed two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). According to information shared by the Press Information Bureau, both the cases have been identified at a private hospital in Bengaluru during ICMR's routine surveillance for multiple viral pathogens.
The first case of HMPV was detected on January 3, when an eight-month-old boy tested positive for the virus. The second case is that of a three-month-old baby girl. The infants and their parents have no travel history. Mint, quoting Gujarat Samachar, has reported about a third case in Ahmedabad.
Apparently, the virus was widely prevalent globally and in India. The PIB press note says that HMPV is already in circulation globally and in India. Cases of respiratory illness associated with the virus have been reported in China and other countries. The virus predominantly impacts infants in the age-group of six months to a year.
Karnataka’s Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Gupta, said these may not be the first cases as monitoring was not being done earlier. He also added that there is no need to panic as the HMPV is like any other respiratory virus.
State's Health Minister Gundu Rao has called for a meeting to review and discuss the situation.
The Health Ministry announced it is monitoring the situation and the World Health Organisation (WHO) is providing updates regarding the situation in China.