India has carried out a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group and upped surveillance in view of reports of rising cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), Union Health Minister JP Nadda said on Monday. The situation in China is being “closely monitored” and the Ministry is in touch with international agencies, including the WHO in this regard, he said.

Three cases of HMPV have so far been detected in India. These include two infants in Bengaluru – a three-month-old and another eight-month-old; and one in Ahmedabad, Gujarat where a two-month-old was detected.

However, in Bengaluru, the authorities said the strain of the virus is different. “(This is) not the China variant,” said Dhananjaya T.N., Deputy Director of IEC, Government of Karnataka. “The two cases in Bengaluru are Indian variants, which are different from the China variant. Currently, we do not have the genomic sequence of the China variant, as it has not been shared. One of the recorded cases has already been discharged, while the second is likely to be discharged today,” he added.

According to Nadda, health systems and surveillance networks are vigilant in the country and “there is no need to worry”. The Minister’s video message came in response to rising apprehensions over the increase in HMPV cases in China, and some other Asian countries. These infections have kept the global community on tenterhooks, fearing another Covid-like outbreak.

“Health experts have clarified that HMPV is not a new virus. It was first identified in 2001 and it has been circulating in the entire world since many years,” the Health Minister said.

The HMPV spreads through air, by way of respiration; and this can affect persons of all age groups.

“The virus spreads more during the winter and the early spring months,” Nadda said indicating the seasonal nature of the virus.

“On recent reports, the cases of HMPV in China, the Health Ministry, the ICMR and the National Centre for Disease Control are keeping a close watch on the situation in China as well as in the neighbouring countries,” he added.

The WHO has already taken cognisance of the situation and will share its report shortly, the Minister added.

In a statement issued earlier in the day, the Union Health Ministry reiterated that “the HMPV strain is already in circulation globally, including in India” and cases of respiratory illnesses associated with HMPV have been reported in various countries.

Furthermore, based on current data from ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network, “there has been no unusual surge in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in the country”, a Ministry official said.

The HMPV like any other respiratory virus causes a common cold. And in the very old (aged population) or in the very young, it could cause flu-like symptoms. It (HMPV) belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae. It was first identified in 2001 and is a leading cause of respiratory infections worldwide, particularly in young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. The HMPV spreads primarily through respiratory droplets (infected person coughs or sneezes), direct contact (touching), and through contaminated surfaces.

Two cases in Chennai

PTI adds: Two children have tested positive for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) and are currently undergoing treatment, a health official said on Monday.

These two are the first cases to be reported from the city from two hospitals. Further details are awaited.

Meanwhile, officials of the state health department held a meeting to discuss the measures to be taken to screen for HMPV and the precautions to be put in place to contain its spread.

(With inputs from Bengaluru bureau)