First HMPV case detected in Assam, Undergoing treatment in Dibrugarh

A 10-month-old child has been detected with the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection, the first such case this season in Assam, officials said on Saturday. The child is undergoing treatment at Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh and is "stable" now, they said. AMCH Superintendent Dr Dhrubajyoti Bhuyan said the child was admitted to the state-run hospital with cold-related symptoms four days ago.Dr Bhuyan added, "HMPV is not a new virus, it has been routine testing in Assam Medical College since 2014. Often patients suffering from common fever are affected by this virus. Children up to the age of five are often diagnosed with the virus. It is considered to be a common virus. There is not much to worry about." The superintendent urged everyone not to panic and take general precautions. He also informed that medical care is being provided to the child along with his parents in the isolation room of AMCH.
The HMPV is a respiratory virus and has recently gained attention after its outbreak in China. Experts, however, have dismissed fears that the situation is comparable to the beginnings of Covid-19 five years ago. First discovered in 2001, it generally causes a mild infection of the upper respiratory tract and spreads via person-to-person contact or when someone touches a contaminated surface.HMPV's common symptoms include coughing, fever and a blocked nose -- very similar to many types of cold and flu.Vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems may develop more severe symptoms.