Sat Jan 04 00:13:17 UTC 2025: ## India Monitors China’s HMPV Outbreak, Reports No Unusual Spike in Respiratory Illnesses

**NEW DELHI, January 4, 2025** – The Indian Union Health Ministry announced Friday that it is closely monitoring the reported surge in Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in China, but has not detected any unusual increase in winter respiratory illnesses within its own borders.

While China has experienced a rise in HMPV infections, particularly among children under 14, India’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is actively tracking respiratory and influenza cases and collaborating with international health organizations. Director-General of Health Services Atul Goel confirmed that no HMPV cases have been reported in India to date and emphasized that the current situation does not warrant alarm. He described HMPV as a typical respiratory virus causing flu-like symptoms, primarily affecting the elderly and children, and noted that India’s healthcare system is well-equipped to handle seasonal respiratory illnesses.

HMPV, discovered in 2001, is a virus that causes upper and lower respiratory infections, similar to other respiratory viruses. Symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath, potentially progressing to bronchitis or pneumonia. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact. While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that HMPV circulates seasonally, primarily during winter and spring, India’s Ministry of Health is emphasizing its preparedness for any potential increase in respiratory illnesses.

Read More