New Delhi, The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has identified two instances of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Karnataka as part of its routine monitoring for various respiratory viruses, according to a statement from the Union health ministry on Monday. One of the cases involved a three-month-old girl who had a history of bronchopneumonia and was diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru; she has since been discharged. The other case is an eight-month-old boy, also with a bronchopneumonia background, who tested positive for HMPV on January 3 during his stay at the same hospital, and he is currently on the mend. Notably, the health ministry pointed out that neither child had traveled internationally prior to their diagnoses. The ministry highlighted that HMPV is already circulating in various parts of the world, including India, and that respiratory illnesses linked to this virus have been reported in multiple countries. Additionally, the ICMR and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network have indicated that there hasn’t been any significant increase in cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) across the nation. The health ministry reassured the public that it is actively monitoring the situation through all available surveillance methods, and the ICMR will keep an eye on HMPV trends throughout the year to ensure public health safety.