New Delhi: India has reported its first cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), with two children in Karnataka testing positive for the virus. Neither of the affected patients have any history of international travel, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
An eight-month-old boy from Bengaluru, who was admitted to a private hospital for a fever, was diagnosed with the virus after a blood test revealed a resemblance to HMPV.
The second case involved a three-month-old girl, also from Bengaluru, who was diagnosed at the Baptist Hospital after being treated for bronchopneumonia. She was discharged following her treatment.
Notably, HMPV has been rapidly spreading in China, where it has prompted several regions to declare emergencies due to the large number of cases, particularly among children and the elderly. Hospitals in China are facing overwhelming patient numbers, especially in pediatric wards, as the virus continues to spread across the population.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed the detection of these two cases, as part of its ongoing surveillance of respiratory illnesses nationwide. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has urged the public to remain vigilant for respiratory symptoms and to seek immediate medical care if any signs of illness appear.
