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India has reported its first two cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, involving an eight-month-old and a three-month-old infant. Both cases, confirmed by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on January 6, 2025, have raised concerns about local transmission of this respiratory virus.
Both infants were admitted to a private hospital and had a history of bronchopneumonia. The eight-month-old tested positive for HMPV on January 3 and is currently recovering after receiving treatment for common cold-like symptoms. Similarly, the three-month-old female infant, was also diagnosed with HMPV but has since been discharged. Notably, neither infant has a travel history, indicating the likelihood of local transmission.
HMPV is a respiratory virus primarily affecting young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. First identified in 2001, it is known to cause upper and lower respiratory tract infections with symptoms such as cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.
The virus spreads through respiratory secretions, contaminated surfaces, or aerosol transmission, such as coughing and sneezing. While most cases are mild and resolve with supportive care, severe cases may require hospitalisation, especially in high-risk groups.
“While there is no specific antiviral treatment for HMPV, most cases are mild and resolve with supportive care, including hydration, rest, and over-the-counter medications for symptom relief. Severe cases, particularly in high-risk groups, may require hospitalisation for respiratory support,” a senior department official told Down To Earth.
The Karnataka Health Department has confirmed the cases and communicated them to the Union Health Ministry. The infants are being attended to by senior doctors.
Since the first case was reported, ministry officials have been communicating with their Karnataka state counterparts about treatment procedures, a senior official from the Karnataka state health ministry confirmed. The situation is being closely monitored through the health network. An alert has also been sounded at the central government level for more expert views on the subject.
The Union Health Ministry has convened a joint monitoring group to assess the situation and is liaising with the World Health Organization (WHO) for updates on the global context of the virus. A meeting of the group was convened January 4, 2025 to review the reports of rising respiratory infections in China over the past few weeks.
Karnataka authorities have urged the public to follow preventive measures such as maintaining hygiene, avoiding close contact with infected individuals, and practising respiratory etiquette to reduce transmission, according to an advisory.
While it remains unclear whether this strain is linked to the recent surge in cases reported from China, Indian health authorities have assured that there is no unusual rise in respiratory infections in the country.
The Union Health Ministry officials have stated that India is fully prepared to manage respiratory illnesses, with robust surveillance mechanisms in place.
Experts from Indian Council of Medical Research in Delhi have conveyed that the present strain of the virus does not appear to be potent enough to cause serious health problems, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Karnataka’s state health minister told mediapersons on January 6, 2025.
“Right now, the indicators are as common as cold, cough, feverish feelings, and all other onboard symptoms of influenza or commonly known as flu, and there was no need to fear the virus. But I have issued an advisory asking people to be cautious and not to frequent crowded places, and also to be informed about the virus and not spread canards about it,” Rao said.
Rao said that the HMP virus cannot be called a strain emanating from China. “The ICMR experts have ruled it out as a new strain and confirmed that it has been in India for decades,” the minister stated.
Director General of Health Services Dr Atul Goel compared HMPV to other common respiratory viruses, noting that its symptoms are typically mild.
However, Goel advised the public to take the usual precautions against respiratory infections, including avoiding close contact with individuals exhibiting symptoms, following respiratory etiquette such as covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, using over-the-counter medication for fever and cold if required, and maintaining hygiene, including frequent handwashing.