Is HMPV The Next COVID-19? Check What Top Virologist Has To Say

New Delhi: Ever since a surge in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in China over the last few weeks, there is a concern that a large outbreak could lead to a COVID-19 like situation.

India has confirmed eight cases of HMPV infections so far in children, with cases identified in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Tamil Nadu, and Ahmedabad.

The virus mainly causes upper and lower respiratory infections, with symptoms resembling those of a cold or flu.

Though they are caused by different pathogens — HMPV is metapneumovirus and COVID-19 stems from the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus — the two share some notable similarities in respect to respiratory symptoms, vulnerable groups (young children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems) and transmission modes (droplets from coughing or sneezing, close personal contact, and touching contaminated surfaces before touching the mouth, nose or eyes).

However, Dr Saumitra Das, one of India’s top virologists, said HMPV is not comparable to coronavirus.

“HMPV is not novel and hence, there is no reason to panic,” Das, professor and chair at the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, told News18.

Das explained that HMPV infection starts with common cold-like symptoms, and infected persons should be alert.

“Then ultimately, if it becomes severe in bodies with weak immunity, it might lead to bronchiolitis. In some cases, it may cause pneumonia in older patients or infants. Hence, people need to be on alert even if HMPV cannot be equated with SARS-CoV-2,” said Dr Das.

He went on to say that HMPV is not “as harsh as SARS-CoV-2”.

The latest virus, he added, “doesn’t pose COVID-19 kind of threat at this moment but in some cases, it causes illnesses similar to influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infections (SARI). However, the treatment is mostly symptomatic at the initial stages.”

Despite the weak character of the virus, “infants, young kids, elderly and immunocompromised people” need to be protected, advised Dr Das.

Co-chair of INSACOG’s advisory board, Das is of the opinion that India can ramp up surveillance against HMPV using the INSACOG networks established for coronavirus genome sequencing.

Vaccines and HMPV

There is no vaccine yet for HMPV, which was first identified in 2001.

But according to surgical oncologist Vishal Rao, anyone who has taken a flu shot and three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine would have likely built an immunity to combat HMPV.

“There is no vaccine available for this virus but if you have taken a flu shot, the three vaccine doses of COVID virus, you already have immunity… This is not something that will spread by me talking or breathing like COVID. This is not the case with HMPV virus because it’s a droplet infection… because of cough. You will need to take precautions,” said Rao, who is a surgical oncologist at Bengaluru’s HCG Cancer Centre.