As respiratory diseases rise alarmingly in China, there are complaints of overcrowded hospitals and overburdened health care systems. Health experts are particularly concerned about the spread of the respiratory virus human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which is affecting several Asian countries, in other parts of the region.
According to Chinese health officials, the virus is spreading in the northern regions of the country. The Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that northern China is the most affected. hMPV, which can infect people of all ages, is most common in children, raising public health concerns.
Although social media reports describe a serious situation, neither Chinese authorities nor the World Health Organization (WHO) have declared a state of emergency at this stage.
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This outbreak has raised awareness of the need for preventive measures, especially since no vaccine exists for HMPV despite the virus being known for nearly two decades.
Health experts are urging vigilance and following public health guidelines to limit the spread of the virus. Officials have advised the common people to take other precautions including washing hands, wearing masks.
Authorities across Asia are keeping a close eye on the flu outbreak and respiratory viruses spreading in China. Areas around China are imposing strict surveillance measures. For example, very few cases have been reported in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, health officials in Japan are actively working to address the issue. Following a significant influenza outbreak, Japan reported thousands of cases across the country, local media reported on Saturday. according to Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 94,259 flu patients were reported in 5,000 hospitals and clinics across the country in the week to December 15. The total number of cases in Japan in the current season has now reached 718,000.
What is HMPV virus?
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), belonging to the Pneumoviridae, Metapneumovirus genus, is an enveloped single-stranded negative-sense RNA virus, according to the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDCP).
In 2001, it was first detected by Dutch scholars in nasopharyngeal aspirate samples from children with respiratory infections caused by unknown pathogens. Serological studies have shown that it has existed for at least 60 years, being distributed worldwide as a common respiratory pathogen.
HMPV outbreak in China: symptoms, spread and what you need to know
What is the mortality rate of HMPV infection?
Children, immunocompromised populations, and the elderly are more susceptible and more likely to be co-infected with other respiratory viruses. HMPV often causes common cold symptoms, manifested as cough, fever, nasal congestion, and wheezing, but sometimes in severe cases it can result in bronchitis and pneumonia.
In susceptible individuals with underlying medical conditions, HMPV infection can lead to death. Based on data from an article published in Lancet Global Health in 2021, one percent of deaths related to acute lower respiratory infections in children under five years of age can be attributed to hMPV. Currently, there is no vaccine or effective drug against HMPV, and treatment focuses mostly on reducing symptoms.
