New Delhi: India reported its third confirmed case of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) on Monday, with two cases detected in Bengaluru and one in Ahmedabad. The affected individuals are all infants, and one of them has since been discharged from the hospital.
In response to growing concerns, the Indian government and the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) have sought to reassure the public, emphasizing that HMPV is not a new threat. “HMPV is already in circulation globally, including in India,” officials stated, urging people not to panic.
The detection of HMPV cases coincides with rising fears after reports of an outbreak in China, sparking widespread discussions on social media, including trending hashtags like #Lockdown. Some users have drawn comparisons between the current HMPV surge and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in China in late 2019 before spreading globally.
HMPV is a respiratory virus, first identified in 2001, that can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages, with the most serious complications affecting infants, elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems.
While authorities caution against overreacting, they continue to monitor the situation closely. The public has been reminded that the virus, though concerning, is not a new phenomenon, and its circulation is not unexpected.
