8-year-old found infected with HMPV; Gujarat tally rises to 3, ET HealthWorld
New Delhi: An eight-year-old from Sabarkantha was found infected with human metapneumovirus (HMPV) on Friday, officials said.
The number of human metapneumovirus cases in Gujarat has risen to three.
Gujarat health minister Rushikesh Patel has validated the detection of HMPV virus, which scientists first discovered in 2001. He clarified that this is amongst various viruses that impact the respiratory tract, and stated that on Friday, the Gujarat administration released an advisory regarding this matter.
World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday reported that the patterns of acute respiratory infection, including human metapneumovirus (HMP virus) in the Northern Hemisphere, are consistent with usual seasonal variations.
WHO’s disease outbreak report indicated that whilst acute respiratory infections are rising across numerous Northern Hemisphere nations, this increase is expected and normal. These infections commonly result from seasonal outbreaks of respiratory pathogens, including “typically caused by seasonal epidemics of respiratory pathogens such as seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other common respiratory viruses, including human metapneumovirus (hMPV), as well as mycoplasma pneumonia”.
The organisation also noted that when multiple respiratory pathogens circulate simultaneously during winter, healthcare facilities treating patients may experience increased pressure.
