HMPV: 'Keeping close watch on cases, no reason to worry,' says Union Health minister Nadda

While the Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra governments assured that there was no cause for alarm, the Delhi government directed all hospitals in the capital to remain fully prepared to manage a potential surge in respiratory illnesses.

New Delhi: Top officials and health experts on Monday asked people not to panic over HMPV as the virus has been around for more than two decades with barely any consequences and no surge in any of the common respiratory viral pathogens has been seen in India in recent months.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda assured people not to worry as it is not a new virus. “It was first identified in 2001 and it has been circulating in the entire world since many years. HMPV spreads through air, by way of respiration. This can affect persons of all age groups. The virus spreads more during the winter and the early spring months,” he said.

“The WHO has taken cognisance of the situation and will share its report shortly with us. The country data for respiratory viruses available with ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program has also been reviewed and no surge in any of the common respiratory viral pathogens is observed in India,” the minister said.

“HMP virus is nothing to panic about. It’s a known virus that causes respiratory infections, mostly mild. Rather than jump at detection of every pathogen, we should all take normal precautions when we have a cold: wear a mask, wash hands, avoid crowds and consult a doctor if there are severe symptoms,” Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organisation said in a social media post.

The report of a few positive cases has triggered a panic wave among people, who took to social media to air their concerns.

Following the report of an HMPV outbreak in parts of China, a Joint Monitoring Group of the Union Health Ministry took stock of the situation on Saturday.

It concluded that surveillance showed no unusual surge and the country was well-prepared to handle respiratory illnesses. The Union Health Ministry, the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Centre for Disease Control keep a close watch on the situation in China as well as in the neighbouring countries.

“It is unfortunate that unnecessary panic is being created in the media about human meta-pneumovirus. This is highly misleading and unscientific,” said Abdul Ghafur, a Chennai-based doctor and expert on infectious diseases.

“HMPV is not a new virus—it is a common cold virus that has been known for decades. With the increased use of multiplex PCR panels for respiratory infections, it is common to detect HMPV in patients presenting with symptoms of a cold,” he said.

The experts note that HMPV is far less dangerous. Influenza, which can cause severe illness and has a higher mortality rate, remains a much greater public health concern than HMPV, they say.

“The health systems and surveillance networks of the country remain vigilant, ensuring the country is ready to respond promptly to any emerging health challenges. There is no reason to worry. We are closely monitoring the situation,” Nadda added.