India has reported seven cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in children, with cases detected in Bengaluru, Nagpur, Tamil Nadu, and Ahmedabad. The cases have emerged amid a rise in respiratory illnesses in neighboring countries. However, health authorities have reassured the public that there is no threat of a large-scale outbreak similar to COVID-19.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda emphasized that HMPV is not a newly discovered virus, having first been identified in 2001 and circulated globally for years. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed two cases in Bengaluru. One involved a three-month-old girl admitted in December with fever and cold, who has since recovered and been discharged. The second case was an eight-month-old boy who tested positive for both HMPV and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). He was admitted with fever and a minor injury and is now recovering.
In Ahmedabad, a two-month-old infant from Rajasthan’s Dungarpur tested positive for HMPV after being hospitalized with respiratory symptoms. The child has since been treated and discharged. Nagpur reported two cases—a seven-year-old and a thirteen-year-old—who were initially suspected of having H1N1. Further tests confirmed HMPV, and both recovered with outpatient care.
In Tamil Nadu, two active cases were identified in Chennai and Salem. State health authorities confirmed that both children are stable. Officials reassured the public that HMPV infections are typically self-limiting, resolving with symptomatic care, hydration, and rest.
