Punjabi News-Patiala Web Desk
Chandigarh, 04 January
People had not yet recovered from the damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic when a new respiratory-related human metapneumovirus (HMPV) virus was reported in China. HMPV emerged exactly five years after Covid-19 and China is currently struggling badly with a new respiratory virus.
Several media reports and social media posts suggest that the virus is spreading rapidly there. Some even claim that hospitals and crematoriums are full. Videos shared online show overcrowded hospitals, with some users saying multiple viruses are spreading, including influenza A, HMPV, mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Covid.
Reports claim that the rise in HMPV cases has led to an alarming rise in sudden deaths, with people between the ages of 40 and 80 being particularly affected.
According to the ‘x’ post on SARS-CoV-2, “China is facing the rise of several viruses, including influenza A, HMPV, mycoplasma pneumoniae and Covid-19. Children’s hospitals are particularly under strain due to rising cases of pneumonia and lung-related infections.
Meanwhile, China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported that data from the Chinese CDC showed in late December that the positive rate of HMPV among cases aged 14 and under had risen amid recent fluctuations.
What is HMPV?
HMPV, discovered in 2001, comes from the genus Pneumoviridae, along with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). However, serological studies have shown that it has been present in humans for more than 60 years and is distributed throughout the world.
The virus can cause upper and lower respiratory illness in people of all ages. Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are primarily affected. Symptoms commonly associated with HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Li Tongzheng, a chief physician in the Department of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases at Beijing Yuan Hospital, Capital Medical University, said HMPV can be transmitted from person to person through inhalation and person-to-person contact, such as shaking hands. is This includes touching an object contaminated with the virus.
Its incubation period is between three to five days. Wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, and boosting immunity can help prevent illness. Experts are also warning against using antivirals for HMPV.
In a recent interview with the state-backed National Business Daily, a respiratory specialist at a hospital in Shanghai warned people against indiscriminately using antiviral drugs to fight human metapneumovirus. It has been said that there is no vaccine for it, which has symptoms similar to a cold.
HMPV was found in 2023 in the Netherlands, Britain, Finland, Australia, Canada, USA and China.
What do Indian health officials say?
However, China is reportedly seeing an outbreak of the Covid-like human metapneumovirus (HMPV). In this regard, Indian health officials said on Friday that there is no need to worry.
Director General of Health Services Dr Atul Goyal told the media, “The outbreak of HMPV in China is like any other respiratory virus. There is no need to worry about the current situation.”
He said the disease can cause “flu-like symptoms” in the elderly and very young children. He said that there has been no significant increase in the December 2024 data on respiratory outbreaks in the country. If someone has a cough and cold, you should avoid coming in contact with many people to avoid spreading the infection. He said that there is nothing to panic about the current situation. (with IANS inputs)
