HMPV in India: Infant in Ahmedabad hospital tests positive, in stable condition
HMPV in India: Infant in Ahmedabad hospital tests positive, in stable condition
A two-month-old boy admitted to a private hospital in Ahmedabad has been detected with Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection, an official said on Monday, January 6, 2025.
The infant, who hails from Dungarpur in Rajasthan, was admitted to the hospital, located in Chandkheda, on December 24 with symptoms of a respiratory infection.
After tests, he was found positive for the HMPV, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s in-charge medical officer of health Bhavin Solanki said. “HMPV (infection) was detected in the patient on December 26, but we learnt about it today as the private hospital reported it to us late,” Solanki said.
The patient has been placed in isolation, the official said. Earlier, the child was on a ventilator, but his condition is stable now, Solanki said.
This comes after two cases of HMPV were identified among infants in Karnataka earlier on Monday. The Central Government is monitoring the situation through all available surveillance channels while the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will continue to track trends in HMPV circulation throughout the year. The World Health Organization (WHO) is already providing timely updates regarding the situation in China to further inform ongoing measures, government officials said.
Sandeep Budhiraja, group medical director, Max Healthcare and senior director – Institute of Internal Medicine notes that HMPV is not a new virus. “It has been recognised over the past few decades and that way, it is unlike COVID, which was a novel virus,’’ he said.
The doctor added that normally in winters there are a lot of respiratory viruses which circulate and are clubbed under the category of respiratory or flu-like viruses. Some important viruses which cause these diseases are influenza virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, COVID virus and swine flu virus. Human metapneumovirus is also one of these viruses which cause flu-like illnesses.
“One has to follow same isolation methods as we did during COVID or for that matter any flu virus which includes wearing a mask, avoiding crowded and congested places, follow coughing and sneezing etiquette, using a disposable tissue, not shaking hands, washing your hands frequently which soap and water and sanitising yourself regularly,’’ he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
