What is it? Should we be worried?
health
January 8, 2025
Amid global health concerns raised by the spread of HMPV (Human Metapneumovirus) infection in China, reassurances from the World Health Organization came to confirm that the virus is not new or dangerous as rumored.
This virus is common during the winter and spring, and concerns have been raised due to the rise in cases in northern China, especially among children. What is this virus? How can it be prevented?
In a new state of anxiety surrounding the virus, the World Health Organization provided reassurances about it, and a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization said that the organization is in contact with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
She indicated that the organization has been informed that many respiratory infections are spreading in China, as is usual in the winter, including “influenza,” “RSV,” “Covid-19,” and “HMPV.”
In early December, Chinese media began reporting on the rise in cases of human pneumonia virus (HMPV), which raised global health concerns 5 years after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in China.
However, Beijing and the World Health Organization have been trying to allay fears in recent days. Margaret Harris, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization in Geneva, said the virus is attracting a lot of attention because it is not a household name, but it was discovered in 2001.
She explained that “HMPV” is a common virus that spreads in winter and spring.
Harris added, “The levels of respiratory infections reported in China are within the usual level for the winter season… and the authorities reported that hospital utilization is currently lower than it was at this time last year, and there were no emergency procedures or responses.”
What is HMPV?
It is a respiratory virus that causes symptoms similar to the common cold and influenza. Although symptoms are often mild, HMPV can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, especially in infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
Although the virus is not new, it has attracted increasing attention due to the increase in cases, especially among children under 14 years old in northern China.
While authorities continue to monitor the situation, the global health community remains alert to the potential spread of HMPV and the strain it may place on healthcare systems around the world.
Can the virus spread to other countries?
The world and China’s neighboring countries in particular such as Cambodia, Taiwan and Indonesia are closely monitoring the situation.
The Indonesian Ministry of Health issued a statement a few days ago confirming that it is “monitoring the spread of the HMPV virus in China,” adding that entry points into the country are being monitored, including taking measures such as quarantining passengers arriving from abroad who exhibit flu-like symptoms.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told the media: “I can confirm that the Chinese government cares about the health of Chinese citizens and foreigners in China, and traveling to China is safe.”
However, she referred to the guidelines issued by China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration on the prevention and control of respiratory diseases in winter.
What are its symptoms and how is it transmitted?
HMPV can be infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through the following: exposure to droplets from an infected person coughing and sneezing, kissing, shaking hands, or hugging the infected person, touching surfaces contaminated with the virus, such as door handles, or the infected person’s personal items. .
While children under the age of five, the elderly over the age of 65, people with weakened immune systems, as well as those with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are the group most at risk of developing complications from the HMPV virus.
Currently, there is no specific vaccine available to prevent virus infection, nor is there a standard treatment protocol for those affected by the virus.
In most cases, the symptoms of HMPV are simple and go away on their own without treatment within two to five days, but in some cases the virus may cause complications. Among them: “bronchiolitis, otitis media, pneumonia, exacerbation of asthma attacks or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchitis.”
On the other hand, some preventive methods must be followed to limit the spread of the HMPV virus, especially for the groups most vulnerable to complications, and this can be achieved by adhering to the following steps:
– Avoid contact with people infected with HMPV
– Wash your hands well with soap and water before eating, preparing food, or touching your face
– Stay away from places crowded with people as much as possible
– Wear a face mask when any cold-like symptoms appear to limit the spread of the virus
– Cover the nose while sneezing or coughing
