A woman from Bhairab, Kishoreganj, has been diagnosed with Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Bangladesh, health authorities confirmed on Sunday (12 January).
The infected individual is currently receiving treatment at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Dhaka.
According to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), the woman has no history of international travel, indicating that the infection occurred domestically. Alongside HMPV, she is also battling Klebsiella pneumonia.
An anonymous IEDCR official revealed that the patient's condition has slightly improved since the initial diagnosis on Saturday (11 January).
"HMPV has been present in Bangladesh for some time, and there is no cause for new alarm," the official stated.
Professor Tahmina Shirin, Director of IEDCR, confirmed that HMPV is not a new virus and has been detected globally, including in Bangladesh, for several years.
"We identified cases of HMPV when we first conducted tests, and had we tested earlier, we might have detected it sooner. It’s challenging to pinpoint when exactly the virus entered the country," Shirin explained.
She further mentioned that HMPV infections, though raising concern this year, have been sporadically recorded annually.
As of now, there is no specific antiviral therapy or vaccine for HMPV, and treatment is administered based on symptoms.
The initial outbreak of HMPV was reported in China at the beginning of January 2025, followed by cases in Japan, Malaysia, and India.
Health experts suggest that HMPV has likely existed in Bangladesh since 2001, with the population developing sufficient antibodies over time, mitigating fears of a crisis akin to the coronavirus pandemic.
US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that HMPV was first identified globally in 2001, although it may have existed for decades, with some evidence suggesting its presence as early as 1958.
CDC reports that HMPV can cause illnesses such as bronchitis or pneumonia in individuals of any age but predominantly affects children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
