Two Cases of Human Metapneumovirus Detected in Bengaluru

Two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), linked to a surge in respiratory illnesses in China, have been reported in Bengaluru. According to News18, one of the cases involves an eight-month-old child, while India Today confirmed both cases were identified at a Bengaluru hospital.

The patients were treated at Baptist Hospital in north Bengaluru, with neither having any history of international travel. The eight-month-old is currently under care at a private hospital in the city, showing no travel history.

HMPV, a single-stranded RNA virus, mimics symptoms of the common cold and flu, but can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, particularly in infants, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces, with symptoms including cough, fever, nasal congestion, and fatigue, typically emerging within three to six days of exposure.

First identified in 2001 in The Netherlands, HMPV has recently surged in northern Chinese provinces, prompting hospitals there to see a rise in patient numbers. Chinese health authorities are now implementing emergency measures to curb the outbreak.

Though the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not declared HMPV a global health emergency, the increase in cases has led to enhanced monitoring efforts.