China calls HMPV outbreak a ‘winter occurrence’, India says ‘don’t panic’
China calls HMPV outbreak a ‘winter occurrence’, India says ‘don’t panic’
The spread of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) – a respiratory illness with flu-like symptoms, similar to those of COVID-19 – in China has raised global health concerns, with countries closely monitoring the situation .
Here are 10 points about the HMPV virus
- Photos and videos of people wearing masks in hospitals in China appeared on social media platforms and local reports emerged of the HMPV outbreak, discovered in 2001, scenes similar to the Covid outbreak five years ago, which later turned into a global pandemic and led to more than 7 million deaths worldwide.
- Beijing issued a press release to address these concerns. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Friday that “respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season.”
- Reassuring citizens and tourists, she said: “I can assure you that the Chinese government cares about the health of Chinese citizens and foreigners coming to China,” adding that “it is safe to travel to China.”
- India has been one of the countries worst hit by COVID-19. Dr Atul Goel, head of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), has asked people not to panic over the spread of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China.
- “News has been circulating about a metapneumovirus outbreak in China. Let me be very clear about this. Metapneumovirus is like any other respiratory virus that causes the common cold, and in very old and very young people it could cause flu-like symptoms,” Dr. Goel said.
- “We analyzed data on respiratory epidemics in the country. There is no substantial increase in the December 2024 data and no cases have been reported in large numbers by any of our institutions,” he said.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has yet to issue a statement on the virus outbreak in China and no state of emergency has been declared by the global health body or Beijing.
- China’s neighboring countries are strictly monitoring the situation. Hong Kong has reported a few cases of HMPV.
- According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, HMPV is a respiratory virus that causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections. It affects people of all ages, with young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems being most vulnerable.
- The symptoms of HMPV are similar to those of the flu and other respiratory infections. Common signs include cough, fever, nasal congestion and shortness of breath. In severe cases, the virus can cause complications like bronchitis or pneumonia.
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