The health ministry on Monday confirmed two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Karnataka.
The ministry said that the cases have been detected 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.
The current current data from ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network suggests there has been no unusual surge in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in the country, the ministry said.
A 3-month-old female infant, who was diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital, Bengaluru with a history of bronchopneumonia. She has been since discharged.
An 8-month-old male infant, who tested positive for HMPV on January 3, 2025, after being admitted to Baptist Hospital, Bengaluru, with a history of bronchopneumonia. The infant is now recovering.
“It is important to note that neither of the affected patients haveany history of international travel,” the ministry further said.
The health ministry said that it monitoring the situation through all available surveillance channels.
“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”.
Source: Economic Times