HMPV cases have reached the number of 7, and India remains calm in the situation

HMPV Cases in India Reach 7, Health Authorities Remain Calm Amid Growing Concerns

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Pinky Deshmukh

Last Updated: January 07, 2025

Summary: The center has advised citizens to remain calm and take preventive measures with awareness.

On Tuesday, the Centre assessed the country's respiratory illness outbreaks after isolated cases of HMPV infection were detected. The forum evaluated public health methods for managing potential disease outbreaks and urged states to raise awareness about preventive measures.

Seven HMPV cases were reported from various districts of India on Monday. The Centre and health experts urged people not to panic, stating that the virus is neither a new pathogen nor the cause of a massive disease outbreak.

Many states released guidelines to improve health departments' preparations for disease outbreaks. Following a routine Center advisory, Odisha started testing on Tuesday in some locations. The state's readiness for disease will be discussed at a high-level meeting of the Uttar Pradesh government.

According to the PTI story, the infected baby, who is from Dungarpur, Rajasthan, was brought to the private hospital in Ahmedabad's Chandkheda neighborhood on December 24 with signs of a respiratory illness. The tests revealed that he was HMPV positive, hence, he was kept in isolation.

The first two cases were found in Bengaluru, Karnataka. This includes an eight-month-old who is in the hospital recovering and a three-month-old who has been released. After being hospitalized at Baptist Hospital with a history of bronchopneumonia, an eight-month-old boy tested positive for HMPV on January 3.

In Ahmedabad, a two-month-old baby was confirmed to be the third HMPV case in India. There are now five HMPV cases nationwide after Tamil Nadu reported two cases, one in Chennai and one in Salem. In India, no HMPV-related fatalities have been documented to date.

Nagpur has confirmed two cases involving a seven-year-old and a thirteen-year-old. Initially diagnosed with suspected H1N1 (swine flu), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests later identified HMPV. Both children successfully recovered with outpatient treatment, as reported by the Meditrina Institute of Medical Sciences.

According to the Union health ministry, those affected infants and their families in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad had no recent travel history, ruling out exposure from other areas or nations.

Regarding the Tamil Nadu cases, no statement was made right away. An epidemic in China has brought attention to the HMPV, a respiratory virus that is known around the world.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda said, “Health experts have clarified that HMPV is not a new virus. It was first identified in 2001. HMPV spreads through the air and can affect people of all age groups. The virus spreads more during the winter and early spring months.”

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, a former chief scientist of the World Health Organization, stated that there is no need to be alarmed about HMPV. “It's a known virus that causes respiratory infections, mostly mild,” she posted on X.

During a cold, Dr. Swaminathan advised people to take "normal precautions" such as wearing a mask, washing their hands, avoiding crowds, and seeing a doctor if their symptoms were severe.