LIVE | HMPV: Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad report cases as Bengaluru babies recover

Three HMPV cases have been reported in Kolkata since November, the Economic Times has reported quoting Sudipta Mitra, the CEO of Peerless Hospital in the city. He clarified that it is not an uncommon phenomenon and such cases come every winter.

Mumbai's civic body has clarified that no HMPV case has been found in the metropolis.

In a release, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said the Union and Maharashtra governments have assured that the HMPV strain found in China does not pose a significant concern and necessary precautions are being taken to prevent its spread.

“The public has been reassured that there is no need for unnecessary panic. Not a single case of the HMPV virus infection has been found in Mumbai. The Directorate of Health Services, Pune, has already issued a set of guidelines on January 3 outlining preventive measures after the reports of an outbreak of HMPV in China surfaced in the media,” it said.

The Public Health Department has analysed the state's respiratory infection data, which shows no significant increase in cases in December 2024 compared to 2023, the release said.

“However, as a precautionary measure, the health department has urged citizens to follow guidelines to protect themselves from respiratory infections. Citizens are advised to cover their mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, wash their hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer. They must stay away from public places if they experience symptoms such as fever, cough or sneezing,” the civic body said.

Citizens must drink plenty of water, eat nutritious food, and ensure proper ventilation in all areas to reduce the spread of infection, it said, adding that they are urged to avoid handshakes, reuse of tissues or handkerchiefs, and close contact with sick individuals.

“Additionally, individuals should refrain from touching their eyes, nose, or mouth frequently, spitting in public places, and self-medication without consulting a doctor. HMPV is a major cause of acute respiratory infections. This seasonal virus, which is known to cause infections in the upper respiratory tract similar to the common cold, is more prevalent during the winter and early summer months, much like RSV and the flu,” it said.

BMC further said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Delhi had already released a statement on January 3, the BMC release said.

With two cases of HMPV detected in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said he has directed the health and medical education departments to take all the precautionary measures.

“There is information on HMPV or China virus infection in Karnataka. I have instructed the health department to take precautionary measures. I have also spoken to Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. We — Health and Medical Education departments — will take all the precautionary measures to control it,” Siddaramaiah said.

“Though it is not a dangerous virus, precautionary measures need to be taken. Whatever measures the health department suggests, the government will support all those measures,” he added.

The Directorate of Medical Education (DME) in Bengaluru has urged people not to panic as the virus is not as transmissible as COVID-19.

Emphasising that the respiratory virus primarily affects children, causing infections similar to the common cold, the directorate said in a release that hospitals have been instructed to report influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases.

To prevent escalation of the spread of the virus, people are advised to cover mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, wash hands frequently with soap, avoid public places if symptomatic and close contact with sick persons.

The advisory further urged people not to reuse tissue papers or handkerchiefs, share towels and linen and avoid spitting in public places.

HMPV causes flu-like symptoms including cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath. In more severe cases, it can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia, especially in young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.

The virus spreads through respiratory droplets, close personal contact, and touching surfaces contaminated with the virus followed by touching the mouth, nose, or eyes, it added.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said citizens must not panic amid the detection of HMPV cases in some other states and asserted his government will soon issue a comprehensive advisory on the situation.

A two-month-old boy admitted to a private hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, has been detected with HMPV infection, while two cases have been detected in Karnataka. Both states share borders with Maharashtra.

Speaking to reporters in Kolhapur, CM Fadnavis said, “Citizens must not panic. The state health department will soon issue a comprehensive advisory on the situation. It is not a new virus. It is coming again. We will reissue an advisory regarding the virus.”

The situation is being monitored closely and the Union health ministry and state health officials are in touch to assess it, he added.

The Union health ministry has emphasised that HMPV is already in circulation globally, including in India, and cases of respiratory illnesses associated with it have been reported in various countries.

Here is the advisory issued by Maharashtra:

Dos

Cover mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue paper when coughing or sneezing

Wash hands frequently with soap, water, or alcohol-based sanitiser

Stay away from public places if anyone has a fever, cough, or sneeze

Drink plenty of water and eat a nutritious diet

Maintain adequate ventilation in all areas to reduce infection.

Don’ts

Handshake

Tissue paper and handkerchief recycling

Close contact with ailing people

Frequent touching of eyes, nose and mouth

Spitting in public places

Self-medication

How long does HMPV last? Is it a new pathogen? What are the similarities and differences between HMPV and COVID-19? For answers to your questions about HMPV, read here.

The Delhi government has directed all the hospitals in the capital to remain fully prepared to manage a potential surge in respiratory illnesses following the detection of two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Karnataka.

In a directive marked "Most Urgent", Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj instructed the health and family welfare department to closely monitor the situation, and remain in constant touch with the Union health ministry for timely updates.

"Hospitals under the Delhi government must be fully equipped to handle any potential increase in respiratory illnesses, as advised by the Union health ministry," the directive issued by Bharadwaj said.

The health secretary has been tasked with inspecting three government hospitals daily, beginning with the largest facilities, and submit detailed reports on several key parameters, including availability of medicines as per the essential drug list, ICU beds, and the operational status of PSA oxygen plants and radiological equipment.

The hospitals are also required to ensure the availability of data entry operators at the OPD and IPD counters, besides adhering to the standard operating procedures for acute respiratory illnesses.

The directions came after the Union health ministry confirmed that the Indian Council of Medical Research had detected two cases of HMPV in Karnataka through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens.

First, a three-month-old female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia was diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru. She has now been discharged.

In the second case, an eight-month-old male infant, also with a history of bronchopneumonia, tested positive for HMPV on January 3 at Baptist Hospital. He is now recovering, the ministry said.

"It is important to track the trends in respiratory illnesses across the national capital and act promptly on any issues requiring attention. Any matter needing immediate decisions should be reported directly over phone," Bharadwaj said in the directive.

The minister's office underscored that HMPV is already in circulation globally, including in India, with respiratory illnesses associated with the virus being reported from various countries.

Of the two infected children in Karnataka, one has been discharged and the other has also recovered.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Monday raised concern over the HMPV and urged the Centre to act swiftly to prevent a potential health crisis.

Kejriwal's remarks came after the Union health ministry confirmed that the Indian Council of Medical Research had detected two cases of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Karnataka through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens.

Kejriwal said in a post on X, "The outbreak of the HMPV virus calls for immediate attention from the Centre. Drawing from our experience with Covid, it's crucial to contain such cases early and be prepared to tackle what could potentially become another health emergency." The Union health ministry said a three-month-old female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia was diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru.

She has already been discharged.

An eight-month-old male infant with a history of bronchopneumonia tested positive for HMPV on January 3 after being admitted to Baptist Hospital. He is now recovering, it said.

Neither of the patients have any history of international travel, the ministry said.

It emphasised that HMPV was already in circulation globally, including in India, and cases of respiratory illnesses associated with it had been reported in various countries.

Based on the current ICMR and Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme network data, there has been no unusual surge in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases, it added.

The ministry said it was monitoring the situation through all available surveillance channels. The ICMR will continue to track trends in HMPV circulation throughout the year.

On Sunday, Delhi's health department issued an advisory to hospitals to prepare for respiratory illnesses.

Director General of Health Services Vandana Bagga chaired a meeting with senior health officials, laying stress on strict isolation protocols, timely reporting of cases, and ensuring the availability of medicines.