New Delhi — Indian officials have confirmed the vast country's first cases of human infection with the metapneumovirus, often called HMPVAs of Tuesday, seven people have contracted the virus, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Two HMPV infections were reported in the central Indian city of Nagpur on Tuesday, while two cases were reported in the cities of Bengaluru and one each in Ahmedabad, Chennai and Salem on Monday. The cases include a three-month-old girl who tested positive for HMPV on Monday. Another case involved an eight-month-old boy who tested positive for both HMPV and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
HMPV can cause upper and lower respiratory tract infections in people of all ages. Young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of serious illness from the virus. According to the CDC, symptoms commonly associated with HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.
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HMPV infections are emerging there is a reported surge in Chinasparking interest around the world, but Dr. Carlo García Carreno, director of infection prevention and control at Plano Children's Medical Center in Texas, told CBS News this week that the potential new pandemic is not a concern.
“It's been circulating for a while, so people have some immunity,” she said, adding that the virus is quite stable, unlike COVID-19 a virus that mutates frequently, making it difficult to combat.
On Monday, India's federal government asked states to step up surveillance of the respiratory disease and disseminate information on how to prevent HMPV transmission. Preventative measures include covering your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing, washing your hands frequently, and wearing masks in public places.
“Health experts have clarified that HMPV is not a new virus; it was first identified in 2001 and has been circulating globally for years,” India's Health Minister JP Nadda said on Monday. “The health systems and surveillance networks in the country are alert and there is no cause for concern.”
Nadda said the people infected in India had no recent travel history and that the government was “closely monitoring the situation in China and neighboring countries”.
The health ministry also said that HMPV infections were “not a cause for concern” as the country had not seen an unusual outbreak of the respiratory disease, and noted that India was well prepared for any outbreak should it occur.
“Viral infection is usually a mild and self-limiting condition, and most cases resolve on their own,” the ministry said in a statement. statement on Tuesday.
Health organizations such as the United Nations World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have expressed no concern about HMPV infections in Asia.
contributed to this report.