BD reports first death from HMPV

FE REPORT | Published: January 16, 2025 23:03:12

A woman, who had been suffering from multiple health complications, compounded by human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection, died on Wednesday night, the health authorities said.
Sanjida Akhter (30) succumbed to multi-organ failures due to HMPV infection while undergoing treatment in Mohakhali Infectious Diseases Hospital in Dhaka.
However, she had long been suffering from various diseases, according to the health authorities.
Sanjida, who was infected with HMPV on January 12, did not have any history of travelling abroad.
The HMPV-infected woman died due to multi-organ failure, said Prof Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser, at an emergency press briefing at the health ministry on Thursday.
HMPV, a virus that usually causes symptoms similar to cold and causes cough or sneeze, runny nose or a sore throat, is not deadly.
Deaths from HMPV are rare. If any person infected with HMPV suffers from other diseases, he or she faces risk of death at a young or old age, he explained.
Urging the countrymen not to get panicked about HMPV, Prof Sayedur Rahman said, "It is possible to protect ourselves from this virus by following some rules in addition to general hygiene."
Mr Rahman further said that Sanjida came to the hospital when her condition deteriorated. As part of the medical tests, she tested HMPV positive, he added.
The patient had thyroid dysfunction. She died due to multi-organ failure due to sepsis. Normally, this HMPV never causes death, he mentioned.
So far, Bangladesh has reported 18 HMPV cases since 2017, according to the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
The first infection was detected in China in early January this year. After that, the virus was detected in Japan. It is also detected in Malaysia and India.
Meanwhile, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport authorities have issued special instructions this week to prevent the spread of HMPV.
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