Official reports from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) or the Union Health Ministry

India Reports Three HMPV Cases in Infants; Health Ministers Advise No Panic

Jan 6, 2025, 07:30 AM

India has reported its first cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), with three infants testing positive—two in Bengaluru and one in Ahmedabad. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed that both infants in Bengaluru—a three-month-old girl and an eight-month-old boy—tested positive for HMPV through routine surveillance. Neither had recent travel history, and both are recovering. Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stated there is no need to panic, emphasizing that HMPV is not new and has circulated for decades. A two-month-old baby from Rajasthan tested positive in Ahmedabad, Gujarat's first case. Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel confirmed the case and advised following precautions similar to those during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health authorities, including Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, have issued advisories for preparedness, directing hospitals to stay vigilant. The Union Health Ministry reported no unusual surge in respiratory illness cases, and ICMR emphasized that their surveillance remains robust.