Cases of a flu-like virus, known as HMPV, are on the rise in China, causing worries, but experts do not believe it will lead to a situation similar to the emergence of covid-19 five years ago.
Similar to the flu –
HMPV stands for human metapneumovirus and typically results in a mild upper respiratory tract infection.
It spreads through direct contact with an infected person or by touching a surface that has been contaminated.
Common signs include cough, high temperature, and blocked nose, which are akin to various flu and cold symptoms.
Certain populations, such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems, might experience more severe symptoms.
The public health advice for HMPV is comparable to that for fever, according to John Tregoning, a professor of vaccine immunology at Imperial College London.
Staying in well-ventilated areas, covering your mouth when coughing, and practicing hand hygiene can help protect you. Infected individuals should rest, stay hydrated, and avoid spreading the illness to others.
It’s different from covid.
The coronavirus responsible for covid-19 was unfamiliar when it started circulating among people in late 2019.
The population never encountered it before, so they hadn’t built up immunity, which raised the chances of severe illness.
HMPV has been in circulation for many years, and people worldwide already have some immunity to it.
“It’s a component of the combination of winter viruses we encounter,” Tregoning explains.
Paul Hunter, a Medicine Professor at the University of East Anglia in the UK, states that nearly every child will experience at least one HMPV infection by the age of five.
Many individuals experience multiple occurrences of the virus throughout their lifetimes, it persists.
What was stated by China?
The disease control agency gave a press briefing just before the start of the new year to discuss “its advancements and successes”.
The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated that it was conducting tests on actively monitoring unidentified origin pneumonia.
During that event, Kan Biao, a senior official from the NCDC, provided a summary of the status of different infectious diseases in the nation.
Flu viruses are on the rise, along with respiratory syncytial viruses in children aged 0-4 and HMPVs in children under 14, whereas rhinoviruses are declining.
The organization restated that respiratory infectious diseases were less widespread and intense compared to the previous year.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that traveling to China is considered safe.
“Regular package” –
Images of patients wearing masks filling hospital emergency rooms have been shared on Chinese social media, but such scenes are typical during the country’s winter season.
The worry went around the world, and many individuals recalled the purported lack of openness at the start of the covid-19 outbreak.
The World Health Organization (WHO) requested China to provide additional data on the virus’s origins by the end of December, citing it as crucial from both ethical and scientific perspectives.
The WHO attempted to ease concerns about HMPV on Tuesday.
China has reported normal levels of respiratory infections, as expected during the winter season, according to spokeswoman Margaret Harris.