Government Confirms Detection of HMPV in Two 3-Month-Old and 8-Month-Old Babies in India

While the whole world is witnessing the outbreak of the HMPV in China, the first cases of the same have been confirmed in Bengaluru, India. The authorities ensured that a three months female child was infected with HMPV after been admitted at the Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru with bronchopneumonia. She has since been discharged. HMPV was also identified from another patient, an 8-month-old male infant, who presented in the same hospital with the similar condition, on January 3, 2025. The infant is now recovering.

As the official report has indicated, both infants had no prior traveling withing the international travel. As per the sources of the state health department, the samples of the infants was taken in a private hospital and there is no reason for the department to debunk the tests. However, earlier on Saturday, the department had released an advisory of no case of HMPV being found in Karnataka and these are the first to be confirmed.

Health Minister of Karnataka, Dinesh Gundu Rao announced that HMPV is not a new virus, but has been around for some time now. “HMPV is not a new virus. It is an existing virus and people will develop conditions caused by this virus in some proportion only. All affected children had no traveling record, and all of them are locals. While the reports coming from China suggest the emergence of a new variant of HMPV, the specific information is not available and the government of India is in the process of collecting more details, said Dr Ghulam Muhammad, the head of Child Welfare Centre at the Shaikh Zayed Post Graduate Medical College in Ranchi.

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a routine virus that mainly strikes the lungs and the respiratory tracts. It was identified in 2001 and is similar to the RSV and is grouped under paramyxoviridae virus. Although, it may affect people of all ages these groups of people are more susceptible to infections: infants, young children, elderly and patients with compromised immune systems. The virus is transmitted through close contact by respiratory means, when an infected person coughs or sneezes and through contact with some surfaces.

For infants, HMPV causes typical respiratory symptoms which may be mild or severe and can easily be confused with other respiratory illnesses. Common symptoms include:

Fever: Mild to moderate fever.
Cough: Chronic, which becomes even worse with time.
Nasal Congestion: Sneezing or having a runny nose or having a ‘stuffed-up’ feel to the nasal passages.
Breathing Difficulty: The signs of early or hard breathing, gasping, wheezing, and wide nostrils.
Fatigue: Higher levels of irritability together with less activity compared to normal exercising.
Poor Feeding: Feeding problems, which include breastfeeding or bottle feeding as a result of breathing trouble.

In its severe form HMPV can cause bronchiolitis or pneumonia and such conditions are treatable. They should therefore monitor for signs of respiratory complications such as bluish lips or even deep breathing and if any of these they should rush the child to the hospital. Supportive care is also important in the management of HMPV in infancy and any form of diagnostic intervention should be made early enough.

Currently, cases of the HMPV are on the rise in China, which has led state authorities to give preventive advice and beef up for eventualities. The Delhi government has directed hospitals to immediately report any new cases of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) the data of which should be properly recorded from lab-confirmed cases of ‘influenza’.

Due to the growing concern a meeting with the Chief District Medical Officers and the State Program Officer of the IDSP in Delhi was called by the Director General of Health Services Vandana Bagga.

The Union Health Ministry clarified on January 4, 2025, that HMPV is among the viruses that cause cold and flu-like illnesses, especially among kids and the aged. Majority of the cases are presented with cold cough, and fever, mild symptoms that can be treated at homes with over the counter medication. Fortunately, most children do not require hospitalization because the disease is relatively benign.” Keep pediatrician and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Dr.Suresh Gupta.