New Delhi:
In a recent development, a 10-month-old child in Dibrugarh, Assam, has been diagnosed with human metapneumovirus (HMPV), marking the first case in the state for 2025. The identification was made during routine HMPV screening at the Regional VRDL laboratory of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-RMRC at Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH).
The child, admitted to AMCH with symptoms of a common cold, was tested and found positive for HMPV. According to AMCH Superintendent Dhrubajyoti Bhuyan, the child is stable and undergoing treatment. Bhuyan emphasized that HMPV is a common virus, particularly affecting children under the age of five, and there is no cause for alarm.
Since January 7, India has reported at least 10 confirmed cases of HMPV. The initial cases were detected in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, followed by confirmations in Gujarat, Nagpur in Maharashtra, and later in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Health officials have noted that HMPV infections are not new to India, with several cases reported in December as well.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda reassured the public that HMPV is not a new virus, having been first identified in 2001. He stated that the virus has been circulating globally for several years and that health systems are well-prepared to handle any medical challenges it may pose.
Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal also clarified that the state government is fully prepared to implement necessary measures in line with the advisories issued by the central government. The ICMR-RMRC laboratory in Dibrugarh has reported over 100 cases of HMPV since 2014, highlighting the virus’s ongoing presence.
