Fri Jan 03 17:58:20 UTC 2025: ## India Monitors China’s HMPV Outbreak, Reports No Unusual Spike in Respiratory Illnesses

**New Delhi, January 3, 2025** – India’s Union Health Ministry confirmed today that it is closely monitoring the reported surge in Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in China, but insists there has been no unusual increase in similar respiratory illnesses within the country. While China has seen a rise in HMPV, particularly affecting children under 14, India’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reports no corresponding spike in winter respiratory diseases.

Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Atul Goel, stated that no HMPV cases have been reported in India. He emphasized that HMPV causes flu-like symptoms, primarily affecting the elderly and children, and that existing hospital infrastructure is equipped to handle typical winter respiratory illnesses. He further clarified that specialized medications are not necessary as there are no antiviral drugs specifically targeting HMPV.

The Ministry is actively collaborating with international agencies and tracking influenza and respiratory cases domestically. Although HMPV, discovered in 2001, is known to cause upper and lower respiratory infections, similar to other viruses like RSV, the Ministry assures the public there is no immediate cause for alarm. The virus spreads through respiratory secretions and close contact. While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that HMPV circulates seasonally, typically from winter to spring, India remains vigilant in its monitoring efforts.

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