Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday, clarified that the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases reported in a private hospital in Bengaluru were not a cause for panic as the HMPV strain detected here was an “old virus” and is not known to cause death.
#WATCH | Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao says "This is not something which is unknown or new. HMPV is a flu virus and certain people catch respiratory problems and cold due to this virus. The child with HMPV symptoms is normal and he will be discharged… https://t.co/8IdlQzdS9Y pic.twitter.com/LxcoIRNyFI
— ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2025
“It is wrong to say this is the first case to be detected in India as the HMP virus is an existing virus and was first detected in the Netherlands in 2001. The HMP virus accounts for one per cent of all Influenza-like illness (ILI) reported through routine surveillance carried out by the Centre and ICMR,” said Rao, who held an emergency meeting with health department officials.
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Referring to the two cases of HMPV confirmed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Rao said, "The two cases of HPMV are related to the three and eight-month old infants, who tested positive for the virus at Baptist hospital in Bengaluru. However, both the infants are stable and one has already been discharged from the hospital. This is a respiratory virus that causes common cold and flu and not known to be fatal."
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Reiterating that the virus was not life-threatening, Rao said that there had been no sudden surge in ILI cases in India too. "We will track the global trend and carry out surveillance as a norm. ILI cases get notified routinely. We reported two lakh cases last year but there was zero mortality," he added.
The minister also clarified that the outbreak in China was not linked to the cases reported in Bengaluru. However, he advised the people to follow the guidelines (Dos and Don'ts) issued by the Centre.
