Tue Jan 07 19:01:01 UTC 2025: ## India Confirms First Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) Cases

**New Delhi, India —** India has reported its first confirmed cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus. Seven cases have been identified across several cities, including Nagpur, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Salem. The patients include young children, highlighting the vulnerability of infants and the elderly to severe illness.

While HMPV infections are currently surging in China, Indian health officials have stressed there is no cause for widespread alarm. The virus, first identified in 2001, is not new and has circulated globally for years. Health Minister J. P. Nadda emphasized that those infected in India had no recent travel history and that the government is closely monitoring the situation. The Ministry of Health added that there has been no unusual surge in respiratory illnesses and that the country is prepared to manage any potential increase in cases.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed the cases. Symptoms are similar to other respiratory illnesses, including cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath. The government is urging preventative measures such as handwashing, mask-wearing in crowded areas, and respiratory etiquette. Experts, including the CDC, have downplayed pandemic concerns, citing existing immunity within the population and the virus’s relative stability compared to rapidly mutating viruses like COVID-19. International health organizations such as the WHO have also not expressed significant concern. Most cases are expected to resolve without serious complications.

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