AHMEDABAD: Gujarat recorded its fourth and Ahmedabad its third case of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) on Friday, after a nine-month-old boy admitted to a hospital tested positive.
It is the second case on the second consecutive day for the city.
According to Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) data, the child was admitted to a private hospital in South Bopal. He was later shifted to another hospital for intensive care as the child experienced incessant coughing, cold and difficulty in breathing.
"The child was admitted to the first hospital on Jan 6, and his result arrived late on Thursday. The child or parents do not have any travel history. The child is stable currently and under observation," said a senior AMC health department official.
Out of the three cases recorded in Ahmedabad, two are infants below 1 year while the third is a senior citizen, said officials.
Gujarat recorded a fourth case when a child from Sabarkantha tested positive.
Meanwhile, the state health department officials have initiated analysing the influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) data from the districts. Dr Nilam Patel, additional director (public health) of the state health department, said that the collation and analysis of ILI and SARI is an ongoing and continuous process. "Currently, we do not see any major spike or aberration from the normal trend," he said.
The data, however, has not resulted in a rise in tests, indicated sources. TOI spoke to a few senior health department officials at the district level to ascertain whether the ILI-SARI data translates into action in terms of tests for suspected cases.
"Currently, widespread testing is not required. Tests are prescribed by the treating physicians if they feel that the symptoms are severe. Only symptom-based testing may burden the system. We have asked hospitals asked to report any suspected case," said an official on condition of anonymity.
Across India, more than 10 cases are already reported, as experts have appealed not to panic or self-medicate if symptoms are seen in any age group. The experts have stressed that the symptoms generally last for three to seven days. There is only symptom-based treatment, they added.
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