Amidst surge in the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in neighbouring China, India on Monday confirmed three cases of pathogen — two in Karnataka and one in Gujarat. However, the Government and health officials have assured that there is no need to panic as it is not a new pathogen, adding that regular flu shots or even the three Covid vaccine doses makes one immune to this infection.
In Bengaluru, a three-month-old baby, who has been discharged, and an eight-month-old, who is recovering at a hospital, were the two cases. A two-month-old was also found infected in Ahmedabad in Gujarat with respiratory symptoms and subsequently tested positive for HMPV. All the cases have been detected in children, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said, adding that they were identified during routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens. They had no international travel history, added the ICMR, ruling out exposure from other regions or countries.
Even as the number of reported cases climbed to three in the country, health experts and government officials have emphasised that there is no need for alarm, as HMPV has been circulating globally and in India for years where most of the population are immune to it. It recently gained attention after its outbreak was reported in China.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday said in a video message, that there is no need to panic as health experts have clarified that HMPV is not a new virus and it was first identified in 2001 and has been circulating in the entire world since many years.
Meanwhile, the governments in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Delhi have issued guidelines - similar to those followed during Covid-19 - to ensure preparedness for potential outbreak of the pathogen and other respiratory diseases. DGHS under the Union Health Ministry, Dr Atul Goel said that India is well-equipped to handle any potential increase in respiratory illnesses.
Karnataka’s Health Minister, Dinesh Gundu Rao, stated that the strain involved in these cases is old and poses no life-threatening risks. While there is currently no vaccine for HMPV, health officials suggest that regular flu vaccinations and COVID-19 vaccinations may provide some immunity against it.
Health officials have stressed on precautions such as hand hygiene and avoiding crowded places, however no extraordinary measures like lockdowns or mandatory mask-wearing have been deemed necessary, the official said, adding that one should remain calm and maintain normal health practices without undue fear.
Delhi health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the officials have been asked to maintain careful tracking of any such trends in the country. “They should be in touch with the union health ministry to get timely updates about the preparedness in the capital. It is important that hospitals in Delhi should be well-equipped to handle any potential increase in respiratory illness as per the advice of the union health ministry.”
With two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) detected in Karnataka, the state’s Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday said there is no need to panic as the infections that have been detected are by old virus strains that are existing in the country and they are not life-threatening.
The minister who chaired a meeting of health department officials said the two infected infants are doing “normal”, and advised people to follow general precautionary measures.
One per cent of ILI cases might be infected by HMPV as per union government and ICMR surveillance data, he further said, fatalities because of it alone are very less, unless the infected person has other comorbidities. Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh have reported that they currently have no cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) and that they are monitoring the situation closely while encouraging the public to adhere to general health precautions to prevent respiratory infections.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the HMPV belongs to the Pneumoviridae family, the same family as the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It typically causes upper and lower respiratory infections, presenting symptoms similar to a common cold or flu.
