Dibrugarh: A 10-month-old child has tested positive for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection, the first such case this season in Assam, officials announced on Saturday.
The child is currently receiving treatment at Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh and is reported to be in stable condition.
AMCH Superintendent Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bhuyan said the child was admitted to the state-run hospital with cold-related symptoms four days ago.
The HMPV infection was confirmed yesterday after we got test results from Lahowal-based ICMR-RMRC, the hospital superintendent said.
He said that samples were sent to the Indian Council of Medical Research for tests in influenza and flu-related cases as a routine practice.
“It was a routine test during which the HMPV infection was detected. The child is stable now. It is a common virus and there is nothing to worry about,” he said.
Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal reassured the public that the state government is fully prepared to handle HMPV cases, emphasizing that it is not a new virus and that the government is following all central government advisories.
Human metapneumovirus is one of the many respiratory viruses that can cause infections in people of all ages, particularly during the winter and early spring months.
ICMR- Regional Medical Research Centre, NE, Lahowal (Dibrugarh) Senior Scientist Dr Biswajit Borkakoty said, “Since 2014, we have detected 110 HMPV cases in Dibrugarh district. This is the first case this season. Every year it is detected, and nothing is new. We have got the sample from AMCH and this has been found positive for HMPV.”
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HMPV has seen a resurgence in recent weeks across India, with at least 10 cases confirmed since January 7 in states including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.
