Post Covid: China faces another deadly virus, HMPV…here’s what to know

After a long battle with Covid-19, China is reported to be recently battling with an outbreak of a deadly virus called human metapneumovirus (HMPV).

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According to Newsweek,dataset indicates that rates of HMPV are ahead of other flu-like diseases—such as COVID-19, rhinovirus, and adenovirus—linked to 6.2 percent of positive respiratory illness tests and 5.4 percent of respiratory-illness hospitalisations in China.

Recall in December 27, Reuters reported that China’s disease control authority said on Friday that it was piloting a monitoring system for pneumonia of unknown origin, with cases of some respiratory diseases expected to rise through the winter.

And the report of the monitoring proved that data for acute respiratory diseases showed an upward trend in overall infections in the week of Dec. 16 to 22, according to an official statement released on Thursday.

Kan Biao, an official, said at the news conference that China is likely to be affected by various respiratory infectious diseases in winter and spring.

Economic Times report that China is currently facing the outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), and videos circulating round show congestion of hospitals and medical facilities.

What to know about HMPV

Human metapneumovirus is a respiratory virus first identified in 2001. Though it didn’t affect many people as of the time of its discovery. It has symptoms similar to the common cold. These signs include cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, and fever. Among young children, the elderly, or individuals in more severe cases, it weakens the immune systems, leading to wheezing, difficulty breathing, and conditions like bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

How is it transmitted?

This virus spreads through respiratory secretions from coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, or touching surfaces contaminated with the virus. Once there is contact with an infected person, the disease will spread. Transmission is so fast and may not be easily detected except through medical diagnosis because it has similar symptoms to the common cold.

Preventive measures

HMPV can be prevented by regular washing of hands, wearing of protective masks, for example, nose masks, avoiding close contact with infected individuals, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

Though the World Health Organisation has not made a statement concerning the outbreak in China, there is close monitoring by neighbouring countries, as Hong Kong seems to be the centre of the outbreak.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that respiratory infections tend to increase during winter but has assured the citizens that the government is attentive to public health concerns.