Six-Month-Old Baby in Powai Tests Positive for HMPV Amid Rising Cases in India and China

Six-Month-Old Baby in Powai Tests Positive for HMPV Amid Rising Cases in India and China

A six-month-old baby who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Hiranandani Hospital in Powai last week tested positive for human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which has drawn attention because of reports of a rise in cases in Beijing, China. When the child was brought to the hospital on January 1st with severe coughing and respiratory problems, their oxygen saturation was just 84%, necessitating emergent intensive care unit (ICU) care. Although the hospital’s doctors notified the local civic office about the confirmed HMPV case, health authorities at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters in Parel denied receiving any notification about the case when called. This incidence occurs as the number of HMPV cases nationwide has increased; two more cases were confirmed a few days ago, according to sources from Nagpur.

After being detected more often in China, the decades-old HMPV virus has caused public alarm and heightened concerns about the possibility of another pandemic. Health officials, however, insist that it is not anticipated to cause a COVID-19-like epidemic. For about Rs 7,000, rapid diagnostic tests that may identify a variety of respiratory viruses, including HMPV, are now offered. As a result of these testing, additional instances have been found, increasing the prevalence of flu-like symptoms. Currently, national standards do not mandate that laboratories or physicians report HMPV instances, even when such diagnostic techniques are available. A public health professional stated that regular sharing of HMPV case data with health authorities might lead to more effective surveillance in some areas.

The BMC has increased its monitoring for severe acute respiratory infections and influenza-like diseases, according to Dr. Daksha Shah, Executive Health Officer. She did, however, restate that no official notification on the Powai case had yet been sent to her office. A fast multiplex PCR test confirmed the presence of HMPV and identified the baby’s illness, which included acute chest congestion. Doctors used bronchodilators to expand the airways and relieve symptoms because there is no particular therapy for the infection. After receiving therapy for five days, the youngster was released.

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The infant’s pediatrician, Dr. Sanjeev Ahuja, clarified that although these quick tests are not frequently performed, they were judged required because of the child’s low oxygen saturation. “While we wouldn’t normally conduct a PCR test for every case, given her condition, we opted for it as a precautionary measure,” he explained. HMPV is most prevalent in young children and the elderly, according to recent studies. According to a research done at a private hospital in Pune between July 2022 and March 2023, HMPV was responsible for 13% of viral fever cases in babies less than a year.