- विज्ञापन -
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government clarified today that the two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) found in two infants, aged three and eight months, in Bengaluru are not the first instances of this virus in India.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stated, “We cannot classify this as the first case in the country. The virus has been present here for some time. The detection of the virus in these individuals simply indicates they tested positive for it.”
Rao emphasized that the infected babies have no recent travel history and are from a local family, ruling out any travel to countries like China or Malaysia, where a new variant of HMPV has been reported.
He noted, “HMPV is not a new virus; it has existed in India for a long time and typically causes mild symptoms such as cold, flu, and cough, which usually resolve on their own. There’s no need to label this as the first case.”
The minister urged the public not to panic, explaining that while the situation in China is being monitored, the context is different. An emergency meeting is being convened to gather further information and determine appropriate next steps.
Rao mentioned that while PCR testing is available, it’s essential to assess whether widespread testing is warranted at this stage. “We shouldn’t jump to conclusions based on one detected case. Testing everyone with cold symptoms will likely yield various virus detections,” he added.
He also expressed the importance of exercising caution and adhering to health guidelines without rushing into unnecessary testing. A virtual meeting was held with district medical college heads to discuss precautionary measures and effective responses to the situation.
