HMPV cases in India: Two children have tested positive for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) and are currently undergoing treatment in Chennai, a health official said on Monday. Union Health Minister JP Nadda assured the public that health authorities are closely monitoring the situation, especially in view of rising HMPV cases in neighboring countries and China.
“According to recent reports, the cases of HMPV in China, the Ministry of Health, the ICMR and the National Center for Disease Control are closely monitoring the situation in China and neighboring countries.”
India itself detected five cases of HMPV on Monday, January 6. Two of the five cases were detected in Karnataka by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens. Later, two more cases were detected in Chennai. One case was detected in Ahmedabad.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda said, “There is no cause for concern,” and stressed that India's healthcare systems and surveillance networks remain vigilant and prepared to tackle any emerging health challenges.
Nadda clarified that HMPV is not a new virus; it was first identified in 2001 and has been circulating worldwide for many years. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and primarily affects individuals of all age groups, with increased transmission observed during the winter and early spring months.
The Ministry of Health, along with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Center for Disease Control, is actively reviewing data on respiratory viruses and has not reported any significant increase in common viral pathogens in India.
A joint meeting of the monitoring group was held on January 4 to assess the current health landscape, the Union Health Minister confirmed. Nadda noted that while HMPV can cause respiratory illnesses similar to those caused by COVID-19, this does not warrant panic. Symptoms of HMPV include fever, cough, nasal congestion and shortness of breath – similar to those seen during COVID-19 infections.