By Our Reporter
SHILLONG/Dibrugarh, Jan 11: In what may spell trouble for Meghalaya and the Northeastern region, a 10-month-old child has been detected with the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection, the first such case this season in Assam.
The child is undergoing treatment at Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh and is “stable” now, officials said on Saturday.
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.
Bhuyan said that samples are 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.
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.” 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.
The virus infection is usually a mild and self-limiting condition and most such patients recover on their own.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya will receive test kits from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to enable the state to conduct tests for the HMPV virus.
An official from the Meghalaya Health department confirmed that the test kits are expected to arrive soon. The official also stated that no cases of HMPV have been reported in Meghalaya so far. However, the state is prepared to address the challenge if the number of cases rises. (With PTI inputs)