India has confirmed its first cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in children, with seven cases reported as of Tuesday.
The infections were identified in Bengaluru, Nagpur, Tamil Nadu, and Ahmedabad, according to The Economic Times. The cases emerge as HMPV infections reportedly surge in China.
In response, the Indian federal government has urged states to enhance surveillance and raise awareness to curb the virus’s spread, while advising the public to remain calm. Experts have emphasized that HMPV is not a new or highly fatal virus like COVID-19.
“HMPV is not a new virus. It was first identified in 2001 and has been circulating globally for years,” Indian Health Minister JP Nadda said in a video statement on Monday. He explained that the virus is airborne and can infect people of all ages, spreading more frequently during winter and early spring.
Rajeev Jayadevan, a spokesperson for the Indian Medical Association in Kochi, sought to allay public fears, describing HMPV as a common respiratory virus in children. “There’s significant public anxiety about HMPV, but it’s a virus most children encounter by the age of 3 or 4. Serious complications are very rare,” Jayadevan stated. “This is not COVID or a killer virus. It has been present worldwide for many years, including in India.”
Experts reiterated that while the virus can cause respiratory symptoms, it is generally mild and manageable.
