HMPV outbreak: Malaysia records 45% surge in HMPV infections in 2024 | – Times of India

While HMPV has stirred global concern, emerging reports from Malaysia reveal an increase in 45% of HMPV or the human metapneumovirus cases in 2024 than it was in 2023.
The Malaysian health ministry has urged the public to remain vigilant. “The public is advised to proactively take care of their health and prevent infection to others, especially in enclosed and crowded areas,” it said in a statement. “This includes those planning to travel to countries at risk.”
The ministry has further advised people to take care of health and practice preventive measures. It said that the occurrence of this viral infection peaks during the beginning and end of the year and is an expected phenomenon.
“In Asia, they are having a fairly large outbreak—might even call it an epidemic—of human metapneumovirus,” William Schaffner, an infectious disease physician and a professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center told Scientific American. “There’s no need to be panicky. But for those folks who are in higher-risk groups, this is a time to be careful, [to] be cautious.”
Relatively higher number of HMPV cases in China has prompted other countries to increase surveillance. The HMPV infection mostly affects infants, kids, older adults and immunocompromised individuals.
See more: HMPV Symptoms: Infants older adults more vulnerable; common symptoms to watch out for
Meanwhile in India, the Union health ministry has been actively working to review and assess the situation. “Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava chaired a meeting with States/UTs in a virtual mode yesterday to review the present situation of respiratory illnesses in India and the status regarding the HMPV cases following media reports of surge in HMPV cases in China, and the public health measures for their management,” as per a Ministry of Health and Family Welfare release.
The meeting was attended by Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary (DHR); Dr (Prof) Atul Goel, DGHS; Health Secretaries and officials of States, experts from NCDC, IDSP, ICMR, NIV and State Surveillance Units of IDSP.
“During the meeting, it was reiterated that the data from IDSP does not indicate any unusual rise in ILI/SARI cases anywhere in the country. This is also corroborated by the ICMR sentinel surveillance data,” the release read.