HMPV cases in India: In the wake of the two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) detected in Karnataka, the Directorate of Medical Education, on Monday issued an advisory titled “Do Not Panic, Be Aware”. A three-month-old female infant and a eight-month-old male infant in Bengaluru both with a history of bronchopneumonia tested positive for HMPV.
However, the Karnataka government urged people not to panic as the virus is not as transmissible as Covid-19 and emphasised that the respiratory virus primarily affects children, causing infections similar to the common cold, the Directorate of Medical
Education (DME) said in a release that hospitals have been instructed to report influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases.
Key precautionary measures you should take:
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Cover mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing
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Wash hands frequently with soap
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Avoid public places if symptomatic
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Do not reuse tissue papers or handkerchiefs
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Avoid close contact with sick persons
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Avoid sharing towels and linen
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Minimize touching eyes, nose, and mouth
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Avoid spitting in public places
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Wearing masks in crowded areas can reduce the risk of transmission
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. The advisory also noted that most HMPV cases are mild and do not need hospitalisation.
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.
According to the Union Health Ministry, neither of the two patients who tested positive in Bengaluru have any history of international travel. "I don't think we should be pressing the panic button, because HMPV is not a new virus, it already exists. Reports suggest that it is the first case of HMPV in India, it is not true because HMPV is an existing virus, and a certain percentage of people do get affected by this virus and it is not something new," state Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said.
