10-day Delay in reporting first HMPV Case: Ahmedabad Private Hospital served notice

Ahmedabad: After reports recently emerged about a two-year-old child being detected with Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a private hospital in Chandkheda where the child was admitted has come under scrutiny for failing to inform civic authorities about the case for 10 days until being contacted by the health department.

The Health Department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has issued a notice to Orange Neonatal and Paediatric Hospital, demanding an explanation for the delay and explaining why the health department should not take any legal action against them.

The virus, which causes respiratory symptoms and has high infection rates, was found in a two-month-old baby from Dungarpur, Rajasthan. The child was admitted to the hospital on December 26, 2024. After tests, he was found positive for the HMPV. However, the hospital only reported the case to the AMC on January 6, 2025, when contacted by the health department.

Also read- HMPV in India: Centre Urges States to Enhance Surveillance of Respiratory Illnesses

The notice issued in this regard mentioned, "The health department of the AMC has established a system for all private hospitals in the city to report details of notifiable diseases, vector-borne cases and other cases in a timely manner. Currently, a significantly high number of cases of human metapneumovirus have been reported in China."

Further, it reads, "The Gujarat govt has also issued guidelines in this regard. On Dec 24, 2024, a two-month-old patient from Dungarpur, Rajasthan, was admitted to your hospital. The health department was to be informed of this case, but no information was provided until Jan 6. The hospital provided the information on Monday after it was contacted. Thus, a notice has been issued to urgently explain why legal action should not be taken against your hospital for withholding information for 10 days."

Currently, the condition of the child is stable and is undergoing treatment. Previously the child was kept on a ventilator and was isolated.

Health Dialogues, an independent subdomain of Medical Dialogues had recently reported that a two-year-old child from Rajasthan, residing in Chandkheda, Ahmedabad, was diagnosed with Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), marking the third case of the virus in India.

This new case comes after the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported two HMPV cases in Bengaluru on Monday. These involved a three-month-old girl and an eight-month-old boy, both diagnosed through routine surveillance.

First identified in 2001, HMPV belongs to the Pneumoviridae family alongside the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). It commonly causes symptoms like cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath. The ICMR will continue to monitor HMPV trends throughout the year as part of its ongoing surveillance initiatives.

Also read- HMPV in India: 8-month-old Tests Positive at Bengaluru Hospital, No Travel History