The illness was found in a two-month female infant and eight month male infant, with both having a history of bronchopneumonia.
While the female infant has been discharged, the male infant is recovering in the Bengaluru Baptist Hospital. Sources from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said that the second child may also be discharged today.
The health ministry stated that both these cases were identified through routine surveillance for multiple respiratory viral pathogens, as part of Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR’s) ongoing efforts to monitor respiratory illnesses across the country.
These HMPV virus detections mark the first such HMPV infections being found in India since the recent outbreak of the virus in China.
HMPV is a viral respiratory infection that causes symptoms resembling the common cold. It spreads via droplets, direct contact, and possibly airborne particles. Symptoms range from mild, such as a runny nose, to severe, including breathing difficulties and chest pain.
Emphasizing that HMPV is already in circulation globally, including in India, the ministry said that cases of respiratory illnesses associated with HMPV have been reported in various countries.
The Centre had last week announced that it is closely monitoring the situation following a surge in respiratory illnesses in China, adding that there was no cause for panic as the virus was not new to India.
Medical experts say that the virus has been present in India for years and predominantly impacts paediatric population between six to twelve months of age, though it can also be present in children up to fourteen years old.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) had also convened a joint monitoring group meeting over the issue to assess the outbreak on Saturday.
“The government will continue to keep a close watch on the outbreak through all available channels,” the ministry reiterated on Monday. It added that the World Health Organization (WHO) is already providing timely updates regarding the situation in China to further inform ongoing measures.