HMPV in India: Gujarat reports first infection after ICMR confirms two cases in Karnataka

Gujarat reported its first case of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in a two-month-old on Monday. This came after the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed two cases of HMPV infection in Bengaluru.

This brought the total number of reported HMPV infections in India to three on Monday.

The infant, hailing from Rajasthan’s Dungarpur, had been admitted to a private hospital in Ahmedabad on December 24 with symptoms of respiratory infection.

After tests, he was found positive for the HMPV, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s in-charge medical officer of health Bhavin Solanki said.

“HMPV (infection) was detected in the patient on December 26, but we learnt about it today as the private hospital reported it to us late,” Solanki said.

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The patient was kept in isolation, the official said. The child was earlier kept on a ventilator, and his condition is stable now, Solanki said.

Gujarat government issues advisory of Dos and Don’ts

The Gujarat government has issued an advisory outlining the dos and don’ts related to the virus.

The advisory from the Gujarat health and family welfare department says, “In light of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak in China, reports have been circulating in both electronic and print media. On January 3, 2025, the DGHS, NCDC, MoH&FW, and the Government of India issued a statement confirming that Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is similar to other respiratory viruses. It is typically seen in winter, primarily affecting young children and the elderly, and presents symptoms similar to the common cold or flu.”

First cases reported from Bengaluru

The cases in Bengaluru were also found in infants, and the ICMR said these cases were detected through “routine surveillance”.

The Union health ministry stated that the ICMR identified these cases as part of its ongoing surveillance of respiratory viruses across the country.

The first case in the country was confirmed on a eight-month-old in Bengaluru at Baptist Hospital, with tests of the virus conducted at a private hospital. News agency PTI quoted a Karnataka health department source as saying, “The reports are from a private hospital, and we have no reason to doubt the test results.”

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India monitoring situation

The Union health ministry said it is monitoring the situation through all available surveillance channels.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is already providing timely updates regarding the situation in China to further inform the ongoing measures.

Amid reports of rising cases of respiratory illnesses in China in the past few weeks, a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) was held under the chairmanship of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Saturday.

The Union health ministry 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.

It also said that the current data from the ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network suggests that there has been no unusual surge in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in the country.

How does HMPV spread?

Similar to COVID-19, HMPV spreads through droplets or aerosols generated by coughing, sneezing, and close contact with infected individuals. Common symptoms include fever, difficulty breathing, nasal congestion, cough, sore throat, and headaches. However, doctors have warned that some patients may develop bronchitis or pneumonia as a result of the infection.

Currently, there is no vaccine or effective medication for HMPV, and treatment mainly focuses on alleviating symptoms.

China’s struggle to manage HMPV makes the world  anxious

Recently, HMPV cases have increased in China, especially in the northern provinces. To handle these outbreaks better, China’s health authorities have set up a monitoring system. Online videos show Chinese hospitals struggling to manage patients, with many people saying the overcrowding is due to a sudden outbreak of HMPV.