2-month-old tests positive for HMPV at Ahmedabad hospital, tally rises to 3

AHMEDABAD: A two-month-old infant from Dungarpur, Rajasthan, tested positive for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) at a private healthcare facility in Ahmedabad's Chandkheda area, taking the tally of HMPV infections to three.

Earlier in the day, two babies were tested positive for the infection at a hospital in Bengaluru.


The child was admitted to the hospital on December 24 with symptoms of a respiratory infection.

The infant tested positive for HMPV following diagnostic procedures, according to Bhavin Solanki, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's in-charge medical officer of health.

"HMPV (infection) was detected in the patient on December 26, but we learnt about it today as the private hospital reported it to us late," Solanki said.

The patient was placed in isolation for treatment, as confirmed by officials.

Initially requiring ventilator support, the child's condition has now stabilised, Solanki reported.

Previously, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) identified two HMPV cases in Karnataka during standard monitoring of respiratory viral pathogens.

The Union health ministry has clarified that HMPV is already present worldwide, including India, with respiratory illness cases linked to it reported across various nations.

Current data from ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network indicates no unusual increase in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases nationwide.

The ministry continues to monitor the situation through established surveillance systems.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides regular updates about the situation in China to support ongoing preventive measures.
Following reports of increased respiratory illness cases in China recently, the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) convened a meeting on Saturday under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) chairmanship.