An outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China has caused global concern. In India, now has seven confirmed cases of HMPV — cases have been identified in two in Bengaluru, two in Nagpur, two in Tamil Nadu, and one in Ahmedabad. ALSO READ | How the country is preparing to stop spread of HMPV According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), none of the infected babies or their families have a recent history of travel.
As the world continues to recover from the threat of Covid-19, any similarity to the previous pandemic raises alarm. However, health experts in India, along with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, have dismissed the possibility of HMPV causing widespread disruption. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory virus that can cause both upper and lower respiratory tract infections, such as cold.
It is a seasonal illness, typically observed in winter and early spring, resembling viruses like Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and influenza. Discovered in 2001, HMPV belongs to the Pneumoviridae family, which also includes RSV, as per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, a runny nose, and a sore throat.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, most cases are mild, but young children, adults over 65, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of severe illness. HMPV is common, with most people contracting it before the age of five. While reinfections are possible,.
