New Delhi: Amid the recent outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, an expert from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday said the virus does not cause deaths like Covid-19 but can cause lung infection in some people.
Speaking to IANS, Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, Chairman, Kerala State IMA Research Cell, said HMPV is very common in young children and no vaccine or antiviral treatment is available. recommended.
“HMPV or human metapneumovirus is not a deadly virus. This is not a virus that causes severe pneumonia or causes deaths like Covid did in the first part of the pandemic,” Jayadevan said.
“In fact, this virus is so prevalent among young children that it is estimated that almost 100% of young children were infected before the age of four or five,” he added.
The expert noted that in most people, HMPV causes mild symptoms.
At the same time, “this causes bronchiolitis (lung infection) and worsening asthma in some individuals. It can also affect people with underlying lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and adults, especially with weakened immune systems,” the doctor said.
HMPV was first discovered in 2001 and is a member of the Pneumoviridae family along with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms commonly associated with HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.
Jayadevan said HMPV is one of several viruses well known to cause mild respiratory infections in young children. Others include common coronaviruses, rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, and influenza viruses.
“Of these, RSV is known to cause infections in young children. The situation in China is not as serious as some reports might suggest. China is going through a winter, especially in the northern parts of the country, and this winter is harsh,” he told IANS.
“HMPV is no more of a concern than during any regular winter season,” he added.
Although “no vaccines or antiviral treatments are recommended at this time,” Jayadevan suggested precautionary measures to reduce the spread of this virus.
This “includes frequent hand washing, staying home if you have respiratory symptoms, and not mixing with other people if you have respiratory symptoms.”
(IANS)
