India's health ministry confirms two HMPV cases in Karnataka

The new virus, which had an outbreak in China, was detected in a three-month-old female infant and an eight-month-old male infant by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Both were admitted to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru with a history of bronchopneumonia.

While the three-year-old has been discharged from the hospital, the other infected infant is recovering from the virus.

Both cases were identified through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens, as part of ICMR's ongoing efforts to monitor respiratory illnesses across the country.

It is emphasized that HMPV is already in circulation globally, including in India, and cases of respiratory illnesses associated with HMPV have been reported in various countries.

Furthermore, based on current data from ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network, there has been no unusual surge in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in the country.

The ministry said it is monitoring the situation through all available surveillance channels.

The health ministry said in a statement, "ICMR will continue to track trends in HMPV circulation throughout the year. The World Health Organization (WHO) is already providing timely updates regarding the situation in China to further inform ongoing measures.

"The recent preparedness drill conducted across the country has shown that India is well-equipped to handle any potential increase in respiratory illnesses and public health interventions can be deployed promptly if needed."

China last Friday confirmed the surge in Human Metapneumovirus cases in the country but downplayed it saying that respiratory infections tend to peak in the winter season.

The spike in Human Metapneumovirus cases in China came to light after several videos and images appeared on social media where a large number of people could be seen visiting hospitals for treatment.

The videos looked similar to the situation that the world faced five years ago during COVID-19 surge, a disease believed to have originated from China.

The COVID-19 surge across the globe claims 7 million deaths.

What is human metapneumovirus (HMPV)?

As per Cleveland Clinic website,  Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a virus that usually causes symptoms similar to a cold.

"You might cough or wheeze, have a runny nose or a sore throat. Most cases are mild, but young children, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk for serious illness. HMPV is common — most people get it before they turn 5," the website said.