HMPV Virus Cases Live Updates: Gujarat sees two HMPV cases in a day, city cases rise to five

A nine-month-old child and a 59-year-old man tested positive for human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Gujarat on Saturday, taking the number of such cases to five in the state, officials said.

All five HMPV cases have been reported in the state in less than a week.

The baby boy was admitted to a private hospital in the city on January 6 with a cold, cough and difficulty in breathing. He has no history of foreign or other travel, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) said.

Similarly, a man from the Kutch district admitted to a private hospital in Ahmedabad was found infected with HMPV, the civic body said. He also has no travel history, AMC said.

(PTI)

A three-year-old child who had been undergoing treatment for Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in a private hospital for the past few days was discharged on Saturday.

Director of Health for Puducherry, V Ravichandran, told PTI, "The child has fully recovered from the disease and was discharged on Saturday. The parents were given necessary instructions on the care and precautionary measures they should take for the child's health at home." He mentioned that this was the first case of HMPV in Puducherry.

(PTI)

Gujarat has reported its fourth human metapneumovirus (HMPV) case, with a nine-month-old child contracting the infection in Ahmedabad, officials said Saturday. All the cases have been reported in less than a week.

The baby boy was admitted to a private hospital in the city on January 6 with a cold, cough and difficulty in breathing. He has no history of foreign or other travel, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation said.

(PTI)

The World Health Organization (WHO) Disease Outbreak report has said that the increase in respiratory infections such as seasonal flu, rhinovirus, RSV and HMPV cases in China in recent weeks has followed the seasonal trends.

According to the WHO report, the increase in respiratory infections was particularly seen in the northern provinces of China. “The observed increase in respiratory pathogen detections is within the range expected for this time of year… Chinese authorities confirmed that the healthcare system is not overwhelmed, hospital utilisation is currently lower than this time last year, and there have been no emergency declarations or responses triggered,” the WHO said.

A 10-month-old child in Assam has been diagnosed with human metapneumovirus (HMPV), bringing the total number of confirmed HMPV cases in India to nine. The child, who was admitted to Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh with cold-like symptoms four days ago, is currently stable, according to officials. The hospital confirmed that HMPV was identified after test results were received from the ICMR-RMRC in Lahowal.

Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha states, “The resolution of fever, cough, and coryza without the ]medication can indirectly indicate that the isolation period has ended.”

Concurring, Dr Vivek Nangia says, “Once the cough and cold symptoms have settled, it’s generally safe to end isolation,” adding that HMPV is not a major cause for concern. “Cases like this are typically seen around this time of year, and they’re not unusual. However, it’s important for us to stay vigilant, follow precautions, and avoid complacency.”

HMPV infection is most contagious during the early days when symptoms are most pronounced, says Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha. “During this time, the viral concentration is at its peak in respiratory secretions, as the virus is actively multiplying. The period from 3 to 6 days after symptom onset is the most contagious phase.”

“It’s most contagious around the third or fourth day of the illness, although transmission can happen during the early stages as well,” notes Dr Vivek Nangia. 

Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha, director of pulmonology at Fortis Hospital Faridabad, tells indianexpress.com, “The exact isolation period for HMPV is not yet fully established, but it is recommended to remain isolated until symptoms subside.”

Dr Vivek Nangia, vice chairman and head of the pulmonology department at Max Healthcare, adds, “The main factor is infectivity. The virus has an incubation period of two to three days during which a patient may not show symptoms but can still be contagious, and the transmission risk remains high for about five to seven days.”

Even if there are no symptoms, Dr Jha notes, HMPV is an RNA (Ribonucleic acid) virus, and its RNA can be shed in respiratory secretions for five to 14 days after the onset of symptoms. “Therefore, the ideal isolation period is 14 days,” he notes. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) Disease Outbreak report has said that the increase in respiratory infections such as seasonal flu, rhinovirus, RSV and HMPV cases in China in recent weeks has followed the seasonal trends.

According to the WHO report, the increase in respiratory infections was particularly seen in the northern provinces of China. “The observed increase in respiratory pathogen detections is within the range expected for this time of year… Chinese authorities confirmed that the healthcare system is not overwhelmed, hospital utilisation is currently lower than this time last year, and there have been no emergency declarations or responses triggered,” the WHO said.

Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi Friday ruled out any major concerns related to human metapneumovirus (HMPV).

“This is not a new virus and we have urged people not to panic,” Dudi said. After taking a detailed review of the situation in Pune and interacting with experts, it is clear that this virus is a mild one. Hence basic precautionary measures are important like consulting a doctor if diagnosed with an influenza-like illness, he added.

Approximately 20 HMPV cases were diagnosed in Pune in 2023-24 in the paediatric group and another four to five cases in the adult group with co-morbid conditions.

Human Metapneumovirus or HMPV, a common cause of respiratory infections, can lead to severe complications in certain groups due to age, underlying health conditions, or weakened immune systems. Dr Ashish Nandy, consultant and head of accident & emergency medicine at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, explained who is most at risk and how they can be protected.

Dr Nandy said certain groups are more susceptible to severe HMPV infections due to biological or health-related vulnerabilities. Read more.

An eight-year-old boy from Gujarat's Sabarkantha district has contracted human metapneumovirus infection, taking the number of HMPV cases in the state to three, an official said on Friday.

The boy, who belongs to a family of farm labourers from Prantij taluka, was found positive for HMPV in a test run by a private laboratory but health authorities had sent his blood samples to a government lab for confirmation, he said.

The child, who is currently admitted to a private hospital in Himmatnagar town, had been considered a suspected HMPV case until now.

“The government lab on Friday confirmed that the boy is infected with HMPV. He is currently under treatment and his condition is stable,” said Sabarkantha District Collector Ratankanvar Gadhavicharan.

Doctors at the hospital told reporters that the boy was on a ventilator.

(PTI)

The recent rise in Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases has raised concerns about how to protect oneself from this respiratory infection. While the virus primarily spreads through respiratory droplets, using a mask remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the risk of transmission. 

However, not all masks offer the same level of protection, leading to questions about the efficacy of different types, such as cloth masks, surgical masks, and respirators like N95. Are cloth masks still a safe option, or should you switch to something more robust? Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha, director, Pulmonology at Fortis Hospital Faridabad, tells indianexpress.com, “Cloth masks, while convenient, offer limited protection against respiratory infections like HMPV. They can block larger respiratory droplets but are less effective at filtering out smaller particles that can carry viruses.”

The Centre has done the right thing in asking state governments to step up surveillance for the HMPV virus. The pathogen is not new. It was first detected in the Netherlands more than 20 years ago and regularly surfaces during the winter months. In several developed countries, HMPV is the second-most frequently detected virus among infants.

In India, regular laboratory tests to detect this virus are not conducted. However, studies by the ICMR and other medical research agencies indicate that it is among the common flu pathogens. (Read More)