While a decline in the Human Metapneumovirus cases in India is a matter of great rejoice but should we let our guard down ?
By Rahul Koul
The arrival of new year was also marked by spread of a freshly minted virus that brought back the memories of Covid-19 pandemic . The sequence of events with sudden spurt of Human Metapneumovirus ( HMPV ) that experts claim to be around for decades added to this scare . The sudden detection in the number of cases in China triggered alarm , subsequently catching the attention of media , policymakers and commoners .
In the initial days of the virus scare , India registered three cases , two in Karnataka and one in Gujarat . A 3- month-old female infant , who was diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital , Bengaluru with a history of bronchopneumonia . She has been since discharged . In another case , an 8-month-old male infant , who tested positive for HMPV on January 3 , 2025 , after being admitted to Baptist Hospital , Bengaluru , with a history of bronchopneumonia .
By January 14 , 2025 , India had reported 15 cases of HMPV in Gujarat ,
Karnataka , Maharashtra , and Tamil Nadu .
Former Director General of ICMR and Former Chief Scientist at World Health Organization ( WHO ), Dr Soumya Swaminathan in a tweet asked people not to panic about the virus . “ There is nothing to panic about . It ’ s a known virus that causes respiratory infections , mostly mild . Rather than jump at detection of every pathogen , we should all take normal precautions when we have a cold : wear a mask , wash hands , avoid crowds , consult a doctor if severe symptoms persist .”
Experts share their viewpoint
As per Dr Sanjay Kalra , leading endocrinologist , what makes HMPV particularly challenging is its rapid transmission and the potential to strain healthcare systems , especially during seasonal outbreaks . “ These outbreaks typically peak in late winter and early spring , aligning with the activity of other respiratory viruses such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus ( RSV ), further
heathtech
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