HMPV outbreak in China has started getting people worried - is this the ‘New COVID?’ ICMR identified two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Bengaluru, Karnataka on January 6 during routine surveillance. While China seems to be suffering from a massive outbreak of HMPV, the question arises - is India safe from HMPV? What is it and what are the symptoms? Dr. Pruthu Dhekane, Consultant - Infectious Disease, Manipal Hospital, Baner, Pune explains. Take a look.

On January 6, ICMR identified two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, during routine checks. The patients, a 3-month-old girl and an 8-month-old boy, were admitted to Baptist Hospital. Despite these HMPV cases, there has been no significant rise in flu-like illnesses or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) in India. This comes after reports of an HMPV outbreak in China, where the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration is testing a system to monitor pneumonia cases of unknown cause. HMPV is already circulating worldwide, including in India, with cases of respiratory illnesses linked to the virus reported in many countries.