HMPV in India: Two cases of virus detected in Karnataka, 1 in Gujarat; no international travel history
PTC News Desk: Following the HMPV outbreak in China, India has reported three case of the virus. Eight month and three month old babies test positive in Bengaluru while another two month old baby in Gujarat has been diagnosed with human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in the country.
According to the health ministry the cases were detected through routine surveillance as part of ICMR's ongoing efforts to monitor the spread of illness.
The Indian Council of Medical Research has confirmed three cases of human metapneumovirus in the country and said the cases related to virus had already reported earlier and the virus is in circulation globally. "It is emphasised that HMPV is already in circulation globally, including in India and cases of respiratory illness associated with HMPV have been reported in various countries," the statement read.
The ministry also pointed out that there is no unusual surge reported respiratory illness cases in the country. "Based on the current data from ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network, there has been no unusual surge in Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in the country," it further said.
It is important to note that neither of the affected patients have any history of international travel.
According to the reports, the strain of the virus has not been identified as the data on strain of the virus detected in China remains unknown.
Earlier on January 4, the state health department issued an advisory cum statement asserting that following the outbreak in China, no case of HMPV has been detected in Karnataka so far. In the release, the health department stated that after analysing the data on prevailing respiratory infections within Karnataka, there was no significant increase in the reported number of cases in December 2024 compared to the previous year.
- PTC NEWS
