After 2 Bengaluru Cases, 1 HMPV Infection Detected In Gujarat Amid Surge In China
Karnataka has reported two cases, while Gujarat has reported a single case of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection, the ICMR has confirmed.
Three cases of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) were reported in India on Monday, amid a surge in such cases in China. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), two infants – eight-month-old and three-month-old tested positive for the virus in Bengaluru.
A third case was reported from Gujarat where a two-month-old child was diagnosed with the HMPV.
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The children were admitted to hospitals for treatment. The three-month-old child in Bengaluru was discharged later.
According to the details, one of the children had travelled to Tirupati. However, no international travel history was found in the cases of the three children.
The cases were confirmed by the ICMR through routine surveillance
The case of the eight-month-old child was confirmed by the Karnataka Health Department, which said medical tests of the child turned out to be positive.
The case was conveyed to the Union Health Ministry, the Department said.
It was not clear whether this was the same strain of HMPV causing a spike in China.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Health Minister called for an emergency meeting with Health Ministry officials today over the cases.
The ICMR emphasised that HMPV is already in circulation globally, including in India, and cases of respiratory illnesses associated with it have been reported in various countries.
Furthermore, based on the current data from the 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, it added.
The ministry said it is monitoring the situation through all available surveillance channels. The ICMR will continue to track trends in HMPV circulation throughout the year.
According to the American Society for Microbiology, since the discovery of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in 2001, the virus has been identified worldwide. In 2001, Van Den Hoogen reported the discovery of a novel virus in children with respiratory tract illness in The Netherlands.
RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus, a pneumovirus, is the most closely related human pathogen to HMPV, and the genomes of the viruses have similar features as well as distinct differences.
On January 4, China reportedly downplayed the concern over the rising HMPV cases by calling it “annual seasonal reoccurrence".
While confirming the surge in cases, a Chinese foreign ministry official blamed it on the “winter season". He assured tourists and citizens that it is safe to travel in the country.
A day earlier, on January 3, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in India said it was closely monitoring respiratory and seasonal influenza cases in the country and is in touch with international agencies in the wake of the recent reports of the HMPV outbreak in China.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and validate information and developments accordingly," a senior official was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.
Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Atul Goel said the Human Metapneumovirus is like any other respiratory virus which causes common cold, and it could cause flu-like symptoms in the young and the very old.
He also advised the public to take the general precautions that are used to prevent respiratory infections which means if someone has a cough and cold they should avoid coming in contact with others so that the infection does not spread.
People should follow respiratory etiquette and take normal medicines for cold and fever that are there, he said.
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