The rising number of cases of common respiratory infections in China and other parts of the northern hemisphere is within the expected range for the winter season, with no reports of unusual outbreaks, according to the World Health Organization ( WHO).
Reports of a surge in cases of human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a common respiratory infection in China, have attracted international attention, sparking comparisons to the hospital crisis at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic there. is a little over five years old.
However, the WHO said in a statement released Tuesday evening that it remained in contact with Chinese health authorities and had not recorded any atypical outbreak patterns. Chinese authorities have also informed the UN health agency that their health system is not saturated and no emergency response has been required.
According to the WHO, Chinese data through December 29 indicate that detections of hMPV, seasonal flu, rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have all seen an increase in recent weeks, particularly in northern China. . Currently, influenza is the most commonly reported cause of illness.
Masked children, accompanied by adults, wait to be examined by medical staff in the pediatric ward of a hospital in Hangzhou city, east China’s Zhejiang province, 6 January 2025.
Photo par STR/AFP via Getty Images
“The observed increases in acute respiratory infections and pathogen detections in many countries in the northern hemisphere in recent weeks are expected at this time of year and are not unusual,” WHO added.
hMPV usually causes symptoms similar to a cold for a few days, but can, in rare cases, lead to hospitalization of the very young, elderly or particularly vulnerable people. Unlike the virus that causes COVID-19, which was new at the time, hMPV was first identified in 2001 and has likely been circulating much longer, scientists say.
Many other countries, including India and the United Kingdom, have also reported a rise in hMPV cases this winter, as well as other respiratory infections, in line with seasonal trends that can sometimes put hospitals under pressure .
“Virtually every child will have at least one hMPV infection before their fifth birthday,” said Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom. Countries are also getting better at diagnosing this disease, which could explain the increasing rates observed.
“Overall, I don’t think there are signs right now of a bigger global problem,” he added.
Good to know
- Human metapneumovirus has been present in the population for several years and is generally harmless to the majority of people.
- Respiratory infections tend to increase during the winter season, being linked to weather conditions.
- Health systems adapt and prepare based on seasonal trends, which can minimize overload on health services.
It is crucial to keep in mind that while rising infections may cause concern, there appears to be no immediate danger to public health. However, it is essential to adopt preventive measures to mitigate the spread of these infections, especially in a context where vigilance remains important after the COVID-19 pandemic. What individual and community strategies could be implemented to strengthen our resilience in the face of such situations?
- Source image(s) : globalnews.ca
- Source : https://globalnews.ca/news/10949105/human-metapneumovirus-cases-china-who/
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