A child in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, has been diagnosed with Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection, marking the third confirmed case in India, according to a report by PTI citing civic officials. The child, hailing from Dungarpur in Rajasthan, was admitted to a private hospital in the Chandkheda locality on December 24 with respiratory infection symptoms.
Following medical tests, the child was confirmed positive for HMPV on December 26, as stated by Bhavin Solanki, in-charge medical officer of health at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. The child, initially placed on a ventilator, has since stabilized and is being treated in isolation. Solanki noted that the delay in reporting the case to authorities occurred because the private hospital notified them late.
HMPV Cases in Karnataka
Earlier, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reported two HMPV cases in Karnataka through routine surveillance.
- A three-month-old female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia was treated at Bengaluru’s Baptist Hospital and later discharged.
- An eight-month-old male infant, also with bronchopneumonia, tested positive for HMPV on January 3 at the same hospital and is currently recovering.
The Union Health Ministry clarified that neither child had any history of international travel.
Global Context and Monitoring
HMPV, a respiratory virus that is already circulating worldwide, has been associated with respiratory illnesses in several countries, including India. Despite the confirmed cases, the health ministry emphasized there is no unusual surge in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in India, based on data from ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
The ministry reassured that it is closely monitoring the situation through multiple surveillance channels. ICMR will continue tracking HMPV trends throughout the year, while the World Health Organization (WHO) provides timely updates on the situation in other regions, including China.
The discovery of these cases highlights the importance of continued vigilance and robust surveillance to mitigate the spread of respiratory infections like HMPV.
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