Gujarat has recorded its fourth case of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) within a week, with a nine-month-old child in Ahmedabad testing positive for the infection, officials confirmed on Saturday.
The infant was admitted to a private hospital on January 6, presenting symptoms of a cold, cough, and difficulty breathing. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation stated that the baby has no history of travel, ruling out external exposure as a source of the infection.
This latest case follows an eight-year-old boy from Sabarkantha district who was confirmed infected with HMPV on Friday, becoming the third case in the state.
Two days earlier, an 80-year-old man in Ahmedabad, who has a history of asthma, tested positive for HMPV. He is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Gujarat’s first case of HMPV was reported on January 6, when a two-month-old boy from Rajasthan tested positive for the viral disease. He exhibited symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion and cough and was successfully treated and discharged from a hospital in Ahmedabad.
Discovered in 2001, HMPV is part of the Paramyxoviridae family and closely related to Respiratory Syncytial Virus. It spreads through respiratory droplets, contact with contaminated surfaces, or direct interaction with infected individuals.
Symptoms of HMPV infection include fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and cough. In severe cases, it can lead to complications, particularly in infants, elderly individuals, and those with underlying health conditions.
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