Mon Jan 06 10:47:02 UTC 2025: ## India Confirms First Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) Cases

**New Delhi, [Date]** – India has reported its first three confirmed cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus, the Union health ministry announced on Monday. Two infants, aged three and eight months, were diagnosed in Bengaluru, with one discharged and the other recovering in hospital. A two-month-old baby in Ahmedabad also tested positive.

Significantly, none of the affected families have recent travel history, indicating potential local transmission. This follows recent outbreaks reported in China, prompting global concern.

While HMPV, first identified in 2001, causes flu-like symptoms and can affect all ages, young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are considered high-risk. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will monitor HMPV circulation throughout the year. The health ministry is actively tracking the situation through various surveillance channels.

State governments in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Delhi have already released guidelines to prepare for potential HMPV-related health challenges. The ministry emphasized its commitment to monitoring the situation and ensuring public health preparedness.

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