Of the 11 cases reported so far, two were reported from Bengaluru, one from Gujarat, two from Chennai and three from Kolkata. Two in Nagpur and one in Mumbai tested positive for HMPV, health officials said on Monday.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday said that human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is not a new virus and was first identified in 2001 and is circulating in the around the world for many years.
According to reports, the 80-year-old man was hospitalized on Wednesday (January 8) after experiencing symptoms resembling HMPV infection. Tests confirmed he was positive for HMPV.
With millions of devotees from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and West Bengal expected to gather at this grand event, the question arises: could the virus spread to the Mahakumbh, posing a major health risk? The Union health ministry sought to allay fears, saying it was well equipped to deal with any potential rise in respiratory illnesses.
Check how much the HMPV RT-PCR test will cost
According to Economic Times, an HMPV RT-PCR test costs between Rs 3,000 and Rs 8,000 at labs like Dr Lal PathLabs, Tata 1mg Labs and Max Healthcare Labs. Comprehensive tests covering HMPV and other respiratory pathogens can go for up to Rs 20,000, he added.
