Is HMPV in India? An 8-month-old at Bengaluru Hospital is suspected to be positive

The 8-month-old is suspected to have tested positive for HMPV; the infant and its family had no history of recent travel.

HMPV primarily affects children and is known to be present in about 0.7 per cent of flu cases worldwide. There are speculations that the virus has now entered India. A report suggests that an 8-month-old baby may have tested positive for the virus in a Bengaluru hospital.

An 8-month-old infant is suspected to have tested positive for HMPV.

The infant is suspected to have tested positive for HMPV in Bengaluru hospital. The infant and its family showed no symptoms and had no recent travel history, said sources in the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) health department. The infant, reportedly, is the first suspected case of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). The infant’s sample was collected on January 2, as per the laboratory report. Though the state health department hasn’t verified the results independently, they have acknowledged the credibility of the private facility’s findings. According to an India Today report, a health department official said, “We trust the accuracy of their testing procedures.”

What is HMPV?

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) recently garnered attention due to videos and reports circulating on social media that suggested that hospitals in China are overwhelmed by a surge in respiratory illnesses, including HMPV. The posts also claim that outbreaks of multiple viruses like HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, COVID-19, and influenza A have contributed to overcrowding in hospitals and cemeteries. According to the American Lung Association, HMPV is a significant cause of acute respiratory infections. It was first identified by researchers in 2001 in the Netherlands. The virus spreads primarily through close contact with infected individuals, respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, and touching contaminated surfaces such as toys and doorknobs.