Hyderabad: Health Ministry Clarifies on HMPV Cases in Bengaluru
The Health Ministry has addressed concerns following reports of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases being detected in Bengaluru. According to current data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), there is no unusual rise in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in the country.
ICMR has identified two cases of HMPV in Karnataka as part of its routine surveillance of respiratory viruses. The Health Ministry emphasized that HMPV is not new and has been circulating worldwide, including in India. Cases of respiratory illnesses linked to the virus have also been reported in other countries. As of now, the situation does not indicate any significant increase in ILI or SARI cases.
Providing details about the cases, the Ministry stated that a three-month-old female infant who was diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru with bronchopneumonia has been discharged. Another case involves an eight-month-old male infant, also admitted to the same hospital with bronchopneumonia, who tested positive for HMPV on January 3, 2025. He is now recovering.
It is notable that neither of the children has a history of international travel. The Ministry continues to monitor the situation closely as part of its ongoing efforts to track respiratory illnesses across the country.
