The Human Metanewmovirus (HMPV) has recently raised global concern, with its spread starting in China during the first week of January. It was later detected in Japan and then in Malaysia. On Monday, India reported its first cases of HMPV in the southern city of Bengaluru, where two children, an eight-month-old and a three-month-old, were found to be infected with the virus. However, it remains uncertain whether this strain is the same one that emerged in China, as neither of the children had a travel history to affected regions.

The central government of India has stated that there is no link between the virus found in Bengaluru and the strain circulating in China. While the three-month-old child has already been discharged from the hospital, the eight-month-old is still receiving treatment. Health authorities in India are monitoring the situation closely, especially as a rise in infections from this virus has been reported in China, causing concern in several countries, including India.

Following the news of the infections, Karnataka's Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao called for an urgent meeting to address the situation. The state's health secretary Harsha Gupta advised the public not to panic, emphasizing that the virus has been present in India before, and it is still unclear if this is a new variant or the usual HMPV strain. Gupta reassured that there was no need for immediate concern, as there is no evidence of the virus spreading through international travel.