JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas  –   A team from Brooke Army Medical Center recently flew to Guam to transport a critically ill boy to Rady Children’s hospital in San Diego for treatment.

Aegon Pestanas was hospitalized in Guam after presenting with human metapneumovirus, which led to severe pneumonia and several other complications. Symptoms commonly associated with HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion and shortness of breath. HMPV infection may progress to bronchitis or pneumonia and is similar to other viruses that cause upper and lower respiratory infections.

“The patient was being treated via tele-critical care supported by Navy pediatric intensivists out of NMCSD with on-site general pediatricians and an adult intensive care unit team in Guam since there is no pediatric or neonatal critical care on the entire island,” explained U.S. Air Force Col. (Dr.) Renee Matos, pediatric intensivist and critical care air transport physician.

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