China is experiencing an increase in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases, leading to hospital overcrowding, emergency measures and public concern over the outbreak.
The virus (HMPV) saw a sharp increase in infection cases this winter in the northern provinces of China, particularly among children.
The outbreak of the disease comes 5 years after the outbreak of the new Corona virus in the Chinese city of Wuhan, which later turned into a global epidemic that led to the death of 7 million people.
Photos and videos of people wearing masks in hospitals in China spread across social media platforms, and local reports indicated that the scenes of the HMPV outbreak were similar to those of the initial outbreak of Covid-19.
Health authorities are implementing emergency measures to monitor and manage the spread of the disease. However, Beijing has downplayed these developments as an annual winter event, according to a report in The Independent.
What is the human pneumonia virus?
Human pneumonia virus, or HMPV, is a respiratory virus that causes symptoms similar to colds and flu. Although the illness is usually mild, it can cause serious complications such as pneumonia, especially in infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
The virus is not new, but it has attracted attention amid a rise in cases, particularly among children under 14 in northern China.
First identified in 2001, HMPV is a single-stranded RNA virus that spreads through respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated surfaces. The infection has already been identified in various countries, including the United Kingdom.
Symptoms of human pneumonia virus
- Cough
- Fever
- Congestion nasale
- Fatigue
Incubation period of human pneumonia virus
The incubation period of the human pneumonia virus is 3 to 6 days.
Is there a vaccine for the human pneumonia virus?
Unlike COVID-19, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment against HAIs; Treatment mainly involves managing symptoms.
The increase in infection cases coincides with cold weather and increased indoor activity, conditions that typically fuel the spread of respiratory viruses. Health officials emphasize that this increase is consistent with seasonal trends.
China’s National Administration for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced an increase in cases of respiratory infections, including human respiratory viruses, during the winter. The World Health Organization has not classified this situation as a global health emergency, but the high number of cases has prompted authorities to strengthen surveillance systems.
A pilot program has been launched to track pneumonia of unknown origin, ensuring that laboratories and health agencies report and manage cases more effectively, CCTV reported, citing an administration official at a press conference .
-Can the human pneumonia virus spread to other countries?
Hong Kong has reported a few cases of the human lung virus, and neighboring countries such as Cambodia and Taiwan are closely monitoring the situation. Cambodia’s Department of Infectious Disease Control has issued warnings about HMPV, citing its similarities to Covid-19 and influenza.
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the risks of the virus are highest for children, the elderly and those who are immunocompromised.
In neighboring India, officials said there was no need to panic because the human respiratory virus was “like any other respiratory virus.”
Dr. Atul Goel, head of the Directorate General of Health Services in India, said, according to local media: “There are reports of an outbreak of human pneumonia virus in China. Let me be very clear about this. The Meta pneumophorus virus is like any other respiratory virus that causes the common cold. Common and can cause flu-like symptoms in elderly people and children.
Reduce speculation
China’s Foreign Ministry has played down speculation about the spread of the human pneumonia virus after images were posted on social media showing hospitals facing an influx of patients infected with the flu-like illness.
China Daily, a state media outlet, reported on December 27 that China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration recorded an increase in respiratory infections, including human respiratory viruses, over the winter.
But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said respiratory infections “reach their peak in winter” and the Chinese government “cares about the health of Chinese citizens and foreigners coming to China,” adding that “traveling to China is safe.”
Contacted by Newsweek, the World Health Organization said the latest report released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on January 2 stated: “As expected at this time of year, there is an increase monthly cases of acute respiratory infections. including “This includes seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and human pneumonia. »
The WHO statement continued: “The level of influenza activity recorded on an annual basis is lower, meaning it is lower than the same period last year. »
On January 3, Healthshots reported: “China is facing a sharp increase in respiratory illnesses, including an outbreak of the human pneumonia virus. Reports suggest the virus is spreading rapidly, overwhelming hospitals in some areas. .
“It is always worrying to see a change in the incidence or pattern of infection,” Andrew Easton, professor of virology at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, told Live Science.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on January 3: “I can assure you that the Chinese government cares about the health of Chinese citizens and foreigners coming to China. »
As Newsweek previously reported, the virus is already spreading in China, the United States and elsewhere, suggesting that more people will be immune to it than would be immune to a new virus, such as Covid-19 at the start of the year. the pandemic.
