Woman infected with HMPV died due to multi-organ failure: Professor Sayedur

Sanjida Akter (30), a woman who was infected with Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in the country, has died due to multi-organ failure, said Professor Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser (Ministry of Health).

He urged people not to panic about HMPV, stating that the virus can be avoided by following some rules along with general health precautions.

He made these remarks at an emergency press conference held at the Ministry of Health's conference room on Thursday, following reports in various media regarding the death of a woman due to HMPV.

Professor Sayedur explained that the patient, named Sanjida, had been infected for more than a month. During that time, she had sought treatment from doctors who were not ‘recognised specialists’ near her home. Her condition worsened, and she was later admitted to a hospital in Dhaka, where tests revealed she was positive for HMPV.

He further noted that, according to current scientific understanding, death from HMPV is rare. However, if a person infected with HMPV also suffers from other illnesses, such as pneumonia, there is a higher risk of death, particularly in cases involving the very young or elderly.

Professor Sayedur also mentioned that the patient had thyroid dysfunction and died from multi-organ failure due to sepsis.

The special assistant to the chief adviser expressed his condolences over the woman’s death and advised everyone to follow the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) to prevent the spread of the virus.