Claim: Sri Lanka’s first case of HMPV recorded in Kandy recently.
Fact: HMPV cases were detected in 2023 and 2024 in Sri Lanka. Dr Neelika Malavige, Professor and Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Sciences at the University of Sri Jayawardenepura, and Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa clarified that the claims are false.
Several social media users have been posting on Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms, claiming that Sri Lanka has recently recorded its first case of HMPV (Human Metapneumovirus) infection this year amid reports of a seasonal rise in cases in China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and other Asian countries, which has raised alarms worldwide. These posts began circulating on January 8 with many alleging that the first case has been detected in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Sharing the claim on Facebook, a user wrote in Tamil: “The first case of HMPV has been confirmed in Sri Lanka (Kandy). Take precautions.”
A Facebook page named “People’s Voice” posted this claim along with a video clip of a press meeting organized by the Sri Lanka Medical Association. The caption in Tamil read: “Breaking News! The Sri Lanka Medical Association confirms that a case of HMPV virus has been identified in the Kandy area.”
Another user with the handle @radionmannar shared a post on TikTok featuring a voiceover in Tamil saying, “Breaking News: HMPV virus patient identified in Kandy,’ along with a caption in Tamil that read, ‘Will masks be made mandatory again?”
The Newschecker team found similar claims on Facebook and TikTok. A few posts can be found here, here, and here.
Fact Check/Verification
Through a keyword search, we found several news articles about the spread of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Sri Lanka. These articles clarify that the Medical Research Institute (MRI) has confirmed that HMPV, currently spreading in China, has been previously identified in a few cases in Sri Lanka. Health authorities have assured the public that there is no cause for undue alarm. The reports can be seen here and here.
Dr. Neelika Malavige, Professor and Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Sciences at the University of Sri Jayawardenepura, addressed a press conference organised by the Sri Lanka Medical Association on January 8, 2025, clarifying, “Unnecessary fear has been spread on social media, suggesting that the HMPV situation is similar to COVID-19. This is not a new virus; it has been around for nearly 20 years worldwide. Regarding the prevalence of the virus in Sri Lanka, yes, it has been identified here previously.”
Dr. Malavige also mentioned that research has shown the virus was identified in Sri Lanka previously in December 2023. In January 2024, Dr. Atheeka Akram, a specialist in viral infections at Kandy Hospital, identified patients with this virus. However, she stated that no cases of HMPV have been reported in Sri Lanka this year.
Furthermore, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa addressed the rumors about the HMPV case during a parliamentary session on January 9, 2025. He also clarified, “I saw some media and social media reports claiming that the first HMPV patient was identified in the country. This misinformation stemmed from a statement made by Professor Neelika Malavige during a recent press conference. She correctly stated that such an incident had occurred previously, not now. However, some media organisations misreported this as a new case. I urge media organizations to act responsibly.” Minister Jayatissa also emphasised that twenty locations have been designated for virus testing, and while one suspected case was reported, the test results came back negative.
Conclusion
False claims about the first case of HMPV in Sri Lanka reported recently in Kandy have been circulating on social media. Medical experts and health authorities have clarified that HMPV is not a new virus and has been detected in Sri Lanka before. They emphasised that there is no cause for alarm as no new cases have been reported this year.
Result: False
Our Sources
News report on The Morning, dated January 8, 2025.
News report on Ada Derana, dated January 7, 2025.
News video of the SLMA press conference about HMPV on the Ada Derana YouTube channel, dated January 8, 2025.
News video of the Health Minister’s speech in Parliament about HMPV on the News 1st YouTube channel, dated January 10, 2025.
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