A six-month-old baby, diagnosed with HMPV in November, made a full recovery after intensive treatment at Kolkata’s Peerless Hospital. The infant, suffering from high fever, cough, and severe breathing difficulties, was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). A viral PCR test confirmed the infection. The baby required respiratory support for a week and was discharged after a two-week stay in stable condition.
Dr. Sudipta Mitra, Medical Superintendent at Peerless Hospital, clarified that the virus detected in the child was not linked to the subvariant recently spreading in China.
“The HMPV virus is not new; it is common during this period. The cases that we have seen were HMPV but not of the same subvariant that is in China. There was no link between the HMPV virus that was found in the child’s body and the virus that has spread in China,” he said.
A senior doctor told The Indian Express that the infections occur every year. “This year it has not yet outnumbered the previous year’s cases. The cases of HMPV are less than 1 percent. We shouldn’t panic,” he said.
The first cases was reported in Bengaluru – an eight-month-old and a three-month-old child -followed by a two-month-old infant in Ahmedabad.
Kolkata’s Desun Hospital has made HMPV tests mandatory for patients presenting with upper respiratory infections, particularly among high-risk groups such as children under five and individuals over 75. However, doctors caution against unnecessary testing, citing the high cost of respiratory panel diagnostics.
HMPV, commonly seen during winter, spreads through respiratory droplets, similar to influenza and COVID-19. Symptoms include fever, cough, and respiratory distress, with severe cases requiring breathing support in intensive care.
Dr. Arindam Biswas, a specialist in Internal Medicine at the RN Tagore Hospital, said preventive measures like wearing masks, maintaining hygiene, and isolating when symptomatic. “There is nothing to panic about. HMPV is common and the symptoms are very ordinary; most of the cases of HMPV are non-complicated. Two age groups that require monitoring are below five years and above 60 years because their immunity is less,” he said.
Dr. Saheli Dasgupta, Pediatric Critical Care Head at Peerless Hospital, advised parents to seek medical care for symptoms like high fever, difficulty breathing, or feeding issues in children, adding that there is no antiviral treatment for HMPV.
“If your child is having a high fever, cough, breathing with difficulty, or is unable to feed, please consult your doctor. Your child might need admission to the hospital for monitoring symptoms and preventing complications. Do not panic and consult your pediatrician timely,” she explained.
Kolkata health officials and medical practitioners reiterate that the situation remains under control. “Talking too much about it causes unnecessary panic,” noted a senior government hospital doctor.
According to doctors, the infection generally affects children below one to five years of age during winter.