Bengaluru has reported its first case of Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) after an eight-month-old baby tested positive at a private hospital in the city. The case was confirmed by the Karnataka state health department, although the sample was not tested in state-run laboratories. The diagnosis was made at Baptist Hospital in northern Bengaluru.
A source from the health department clarified, “The reports came from a private hospital, and we have no reason to doubt their accuracy.”
HMPV primarily affects children under the age of 11 and accounts for approximately 0.7% of all flu cases. The state health department admitted they do not have data on the strain detected in this case or whether it matches the variant reported in China.
Following reports of an hMPV outbreak in China, the Karnataka health department issued an advisory, confirming no prior cases in the state. The advisory highlighted that respiratory infection cases in Karnataka during December 2024 showed no significant increase compared to the previous year.
Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George stated that the state is closely monitoring the situation and preparing for potential cases.
Reports indicate the baby has no travel history. The case has been conveyed to the Union Health Ministry, although it remains unclear if this strain is linked to the surge in China.
The Union Health Ministry has assured that India is equipped to handle respiratory illnesses, with no unusual rise in cases detected. A joint monitoring group convened to assess the situation, concluding that the surge in China aligns with seasonal flu trends, involving influenza, RSV, and hMPV.
The ministry emphasized continued monitoring and has requested timely updates from the World Health Organization (WHO). “We will stay vigilant and update protocols as necessary,” a senior official stated.
Read: Symptoms and Causes of hMPV: https://www.tishhanews.com/hmpv-in-china-similar-to-covid-19-but-no/
Source of Information: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/karnataka/story/baby-detected-with-hmpv-in-bengaluru-hospital-citys-first-case-karnataka-government-says-not-aware-of-strain-2660205-2025-01-06
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.