New Delhi – Indian officials have confirmed the first cases of human metapneumovirus in the vast country (HMPV), with seven people said to have been infected with the virus as of Tuesday, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Two of the HMPV infections were reported in the central Indian city of Nagpur on Tuesday, while two cases were reported in cities in Bengaluru and one each in Ahmedabad, Chennai and Salem on Monday. The cases include a three-month-old girl who tested positive for HMPV on Monday. Another case involved an eight-month-old boy who tested positive for both HMPV and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

HMPV can cause upper and lower respiratory tract disease in people of all ages. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus. According to the CDC, symptoms commonly associated with HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion and shortness of breath.

HMPV infections are The number is reportedly rising sharply in Chinawhich attracted worldwide interest, but Dr. Carla Garcia Carreno, director of infection prevention and control at Children’s Medical Center Plano in Texas, told CBS News this week that there are no concerns about a possible new pandemic.

“This has been circulating for some time, so people have some immunity,” she said, adding that unlike the virus, the virus is fairly stable COVID-19 Virus that mutates frequently and is therefore more difficult to combat.

India’s federal government on Monday called on states to step up surveillance of respiratory diseases and raise awareness on how to prevent HMPV transmission. Preventive measures include covering your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, washing your hands frequently, and wearing masks in crowded places.

“Health experts have made it clear that HMPV is not a new virus; it was first identified in 2001 and has been circulating around the world for many years,” Indian Health Minister JP Nadda said on Monday. “The country’s health systems and surveillance networks are vigilant and there is no cause for concern.”

Nadda said the people infected in India had no recent travel history and that the government was “closely monitoring the situation in China and neighboring countries.”

The health ministry also said the HMPV infections were “not a cause for concern” as no unusual surge in respiratory illnesses had been detected in the country, noting that India was well prepared for any surge.

“The viral infection is usually a mild and self-limiting condition and most cases recover on their own,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Health authorities such as the United Nations World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not expressed concerns about HMPV infections in Asia.

Sara Moniuszko contributed to this report.