First HMPV case confirmed in India: What it is and its precaution?

For the first time in India, the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection has been confirmed in the southern state of Karnataka. Authorities have reported that an eight-month-old girl in a hospital in Bengaluru tested positive for the virus.

This virus has recently gained attention after it affected a large number of people in China at the beginning of the new year. HMPV is a respiratory virus that causes symptoms similar to seasonal flu, such as a runny nose, sore throat, headache, fatigue, cough, fever, and chills. It particularly impacts children and the elderly.

Although first discovered in the Netherlands in 2001, there is still no vaccine for HMPV even after 24 years. The virus can infect people of all ages but tends to affect the elderly and young children the most.

The virus spreads through close contact with infected individuals. Experts recommend maintaining social distancing, similar to COVID-19 precautions, to avoid infection. It’s also advised to stay away from infected people, wear masks, wash hands frequently with soap and water, and cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.