India’s First HMPV Case Traced in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: An eight-month-old baby was identified with the HMPV virus in Bengaluru. This is the city’s first case that was diagnosed at Baptist Hospital.

The Karnataka government said they do not know the specific strain because they don’t have the data relating to the particular strain that was identified in China. Moreover, the state health department clarified that the sample was tested at a private hospital, and they don’t have reasons to doubt its accuracy.

According to the health department, “The reports have come from a private hospital and we have no reason to doubt the tests of private hospital.”

HMPV is usually found in children less than 11 years of age and constitutes around 0.7% of flu samples. The virus was first reported in 2001 in the Netherlands, and ever since it has been acknowledged to be one of the significant causative agents of acute respiratory infections globally.

A preliminary study published in 2004 in India reported that HMPV was detected in 19.2% of children with acute respiratory infections. However, further research is needed to understand the prevalence and impact of HMPV in the country.

This is a wake-up call for greater awareness and monitoring of HMPV cases in India, given the recent case in Bengaluru. In such a scenario, it would be important to stay informed and take necessary precautions against the spread of the virus.