New Delhi: As news of the HKU1 virus tends to raise concern, experts are advising calm following the recent report of a case in Kolkata. A 45-year-old woman diagnosed with Human Coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1) experienced fever, cough, and cold symptoms and is now recovering well.
Experts emphasise that HKU1 is not a new virus; it is part of the coronavirus family, known to cause mild respiratory symptoms, and is unrelated to COVID-19. Instead of panic, healthcare professionals advise maintaining standard preventive measures such as hygiene practices, mask-wearing in crowded spaces, and timely medical consultation to ensure safety.
Human Coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1) derives its name Betacoronavirus hongkonese from the fact that it was isolated from a Hong Kong citizen in 2004. This RNA virus is known to infect both humans and animals. In most cases, it causes a common cold, but severe infection can result in pneumonia and breathing difficulties. In fact, the initial patient in Hong Kong had presented with pneumonia and ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) after a recent trip to China.
Informing that HKU1 has been circulating since 2004, its infection rate is low — between 0 to 4 per cent. Dr Harshal Salve, Additional Professor, Community Medicine, AIIMS New Delhi, said, “HKU1 is a type of coronavirus. We do not know the complete gene sequence of the virus; hence, its cultivation is challenging. It should not be a cause of concern. Due to advancements in science and more extensive surveillance, we are able to detect more such relatively low-prevalence viruses.”
Dr Salve added that HKU1 infection usually manifests as an upper respiratory tract infection such as cough, cold, sneezing, or throat irritation. A few cases of bronchiolitis among children have also been reported with prolonged illness.
“The majority of infections are self-limiting within 5 to 6 days. It rarely requires hospitalisation. The infection gets transmitted through the airborne route via sneezing, coughing, and fomites after close contact. Children are more vulnerable to the infection, though most cases are self-limiting,” Dr Salve informed.
Dr Monica Mahajan, Director – Internal Medicine, Max Healthcare, said, “There is no reason to panic. HCoV-HKU1 causes milder infection than the SARS and MERS viruses. Most patients will have flu-like symptoms with a runny nose, sore throat, body aches, headache, and fever.”
Emphasising that infants, young children, and senior citizens are more vulnerable to complications, Dr Mahajan said, “People with low immunity, like diabetics, cancer patients, and those with lung disease, are more prone to severe disease. It spreads from person to person by respiratory droplets due to coughing and sneezing.”
She added that, at the moment, the entire globe has a surge in cases of influenza. This is due to two reasons — the influenza virus mutates very quickly, and the vaccine against influenza does not provide 100 per cent protection. Secondly, there is herd immunity due to large-scale vaccination for the SARS-CoV2 or COVID-19 virus. So the predominant virus in circulation at present is the influenza virus.
“There is no point in testing for HKU1 in every patient as the treatment is symptomatic with paracetamol and antihistamines. Hydration and rest are important. Currently, there is no vaccine for HKU-1. Basic cough etiquette while coughing and sneezing, avoiding contact with a patient with flu-like illnesses, and consuming a healthy diet must be followed. Do vaccinate for influenza once the new batch of vaccines for 2025-26 is available,” she added.
