Mon Jan 06 20:25:08 UTC 2025: ## Maharashtra Health Officials Urge Calm Amidst Three HMPV Cases in India

**Mumbai, January X, 2025** – Following reports of three Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in India, Maharashtra’s health minister, Prakash Abitkar, has called for calm, assuring citizens there is no cause for panic. The state health department and the central government have issued guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus, which is a common respiratory infection similar to RSV and influenza.

Two of the cases were reported in Bengaluru, prompting concerns in Maharashtra. However, Abitkar stressed that there is no need to connect these cases with the situation in Maharashtra, and reiterated the importance of adhering to preventative measures. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has confirmed no HMPV cases in Mumbai, but is urging citizens to remain vigilant.

The virus, first identified in 2001, typically circulates during winter and early spring. While news reports of an outbreak in China have raised concerns, health officials emphasize that HMPV is not new and that India’s surveillance networks are prepared. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has stated that the detected cases are part of ongoing respiratory illness monitoring and that there has been no unusual surge in HMPV cases in India. There has also been no significant increase in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases nationwide.

The BMC and health officials advise citizens to practice good hygiene, including frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding close contact with sick individuals. They also recommend avoiding public places if experiencing symptoms like fever, cough, or sneezing, and urge against self-medication. Union Health Minister JP Nadda also reassured the public, emphasizing the readiness of India’s health systems. The ICMR highlighted that one of the Bengaluru cases involved a 3-month-old infant and the other an 8-month-old infant, both treated for bronchopneumonia.

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