Mumbai: Mumbai has reported its first case of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), detected in a six-month-old infant at Hiranandani Hospital in Powai. This marks the third case of the virus in Maharashtra and the ninth nationwide. The infant, who was admitted to the hospital on January 1, presented symptoms such as cough and congestion, along with a dangerously low oxygen level of 84 percent.
Doctors conducted a rapid PCR test, which confirmed the presence of HMPV. The infant was treated with bronchodilators and other symptomatic medications in the ICU, as there is no specific treatment available for the virus. After five days of hospitalization, the baby was discharged in stable condition.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) health department confirmed that while it had not initially received any reports of the case, surveillance for influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) had been increased in light of the detection. Health experts assured that while HMPV is primarily a concern for children and the elderly, it is unlikely to cause a pandemic similar to COVID-19.
The earlier two cases in Maharashtra were reported from Nagpur, where both patients recovered without complications and were sent home after treatment. Their samples were sent for further testing to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the National Institute of Virology in Pune.
Other states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat, have also reported cases of HMPV. The central government has instructed all states to step up surveillance for respiratory illnesses, including ILI and SARI, and to spread awareness about preventive measures to limit transmission of the virus.
