HMPV first death reported
Staff Reporter :
A woman has died after being infected with the Human Metapneumo Virus (HMPV) in Bangladesh.
The deceased has been identified as Sanjida Akter, 30, passed away while undergoing treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Mohakhali, Dhaka, around 6:00 pm on Wednesday.
This is the first time a person in the country has died from this virus.
The hospital supervisor, Ariful Bashar, confirmed the news to the media on Thursday.
He stated that Sanjida did not die solely due to the HMPV virus; she also had several other health complications, including obesity and kidney issues.
Earlier on Sunday (January 12), Dr. Halimur Rahman, Line Director of the Infectious Disease Control Branch of the Directorate General of Health Services, announced that the first case of the HMP virus had been detected in Bangladesh.
Perceiving the issue, Dr Sayedur Rahman, a special assistant at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, warned that Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) rarely causes fatalities, but continuous mutations could render it deadly.
Addressing a press briefing at the Health Ministry on Thursday, Dr Rahman made the remarks following the death of a woman, Sanjida Akter, who was infected with HMPV.
Dr Rahman explained that Sanjida had been ill for over a month, initially seeking treatment locally before being hospitalised as her condition worsened.
“Scientific research indicates that deaths caused by HMPV are extremely rare. Sanjida was primarily affected by Klebsiella pneumonia, which later led to multi-organ failure. She also suffered from obesity and thyroid dysfunction. While pneumonia and organ failure caused her death, she was unfortunately also infected with HMPV,” Dr Rahman clarified.
He went to say, “HMpV typically does not result in death. Although it has been spreading in neighbouring countries, the World Health Organisation and other international agencies have established health guidelines to control its transmission.”
Dr Rahman emphasised precautionary measures to curb the virus’s spread, urging people experiencing flu-like symptoms to avoid public spaces and wear masks if they must go out. “Frequent handwashing and wearing masks in public can effectively prevent HMPV transmission,” he added.
