Wed Jan 08 07:04:37 UTC 2025: ## HMPV Virus Cases Rise in India, Sparking Concerns but No Pandemic Alert

**Mumbai, India** – The detection of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in a six-month-old child in Mumbai’s Hiranandani Hospital has raised concerns about the spread of the virus across India. This follows reports of HMPV cases in other states, including Bengaluru, Nagpur, Tamil Nadu (two cases each), and single cases in West Bengal, Ahmedabad, and earlier in Kolkata.

While the recent increase in HMPV cases in China fueled anxieties, Union Health Minister JP Nadda clarified that HMPV is not a new virus, first identified in 2001, and has been circulating globally for years. He assured the public that the government is monitoring the situation closely.

The Mumbai infant, admitted on January 1st with severe cough, chest tightness, and low oxygen levels (84%), tested positive for HMPV via a rapid PCR test. She received treatment in the ICU and was discharged after five days. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) health department, while stating they haven’t received an official report on this specific case, has increased surveillance for influenza and severe respiratory infections.

Doctors emphasize that while HMPV primarily affects children and the elderly, causing symptoms similar to the common cold or flu, it is not expected to cause a pandemic like COVID-19. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also urged citizens not to panic, promising a comprehensive advisory soon. The virus primarily affects the lungs and respiratory tract, and individuals with pre-existing conditions are more susceptible.

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