Cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a major health concern emerging from China, have been reported in India. While HMPV causes a disease similar to COVID-19, despite comparisons with Sars-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), it is not new.

HMPV affects the upper and lower respiratory tract, causing symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, and sore throat. It can cause mild cold-like effects along with severe cases of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in vulnerable groups. It affects children, the elderly and people with weak immune systems.

While HMPV and SARS-CoV-2 come from different viral families, they have many similarities. Both primarily affect the respiratory system, spread through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces, and cause symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Preventive measures including hand hygiene, wearing masks and social distancing are effective against both viruses.

However, one important difference is the availability of vaccines and treatments. While COVID-19 has effective vaccines and antiviral treatments, such as paxlovid, there is currently no vaccine or widely available antiviral treatment for HMPV.

Will HMPV become an epidemic?

The detection of human metapneumovirus in India has raised concerns about its potential to become a pandemic.

Experts say that although HMPV has flu-like symptoms similar to COVID-19, it will not become a pandemic.

Dr Minesh Mehta, critical care consultant at Shalby Hospital, Ahmedabad, told India Today Digital that HMPV is not a new virus, it was discovered in 2001 and has been spreading everywhere since then.

“Most people are infected with hMPV early in life, and although re-infection is possible, their severity is usually reduced due to partial immunity acquired from previous exposure,” Dr. Mehta said. “Reduces the possibility of an epidemic.”

He said SARS-CoV-2 has different transmission dynamics than HMPV.

HMPV is spread mainly by close contact with infected people or contaminated surfaces. However, it spreads slower than SARS-CoV-2, making it less likely to cause a rapid and widespread outbreak.

While HMPV can cause serious lung infections in vulnerable people, it does not have the high mortality rate seen in severe COVID-19 cases. Most hMPV infections are mild, so health care systems can usually manage them without much stress.

“The recent increase in hMPV cases in China is consistent with seasonal patterns and high awareness and testing,” Dr. Mehta said. “It is important to note,” at this point, health authorities, including WHO, have not said that hMPV is a pandemic. There is a danger of.” ,

Dr Vikas Mittal, Pulmonologist, Department of Respiratory Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Punjabi Bagh, said, “HMPV becomes serious only when it affects someone with a weakened immune system. We need to understand more about HMPV infection. The situation will have to be monitored. According to the government, there is no significant increase in influenza like disease, there is no need to worry, just take precautions.”

Dr. Srivatsa Lokeswaran, principal consultant and head of the department, interventional pulmonology and lung transplant, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, said it was too early to link HMPV to an epidemic. “This virus has been present in the community for a long time and is closely related to RSV, which mainly affects children under the age of five and adults over the age of 65.”

Although infections have been reported in a specific area of ​​China, “it is too early to predict a widespread outbreak,” he said. Global health officials are closely monitoring the situation, studying the behavior of the virus and keeping it under surveillance.

Dr Lokeswaran said pandemics like COVID-19 are rare and require specific conditions – rapid viral multiplication, efficient human-to-human transmission, and the ability to maintain infection in the population. “At present, we do not have sufficient data on the virulence and reproductive potential of the HMPV strain circulating in China. However, it is always wise to follow standard airborne precautions to prevent potential community spread,” he said.

Gurugram-based pulmonologist Dr Mohit Bhardwaj agreed that HMPV would not create a COVID-19 pandemic-like situation, as the SARS-CoV-2 virus was completely new to humans and originated from animal transmission and had not reached pandemic levels. Spread because there was no prior exposure or protective immunity in the community. “In the case of hMPV, it is spreading around the world with a high prevalence in children,” he said.

Dr Atul Goyal, director of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), had earlier said that HMPV resembles the common cold virus, but there is no cause for concern.

He said there has been no significant increase in respiratory outbreaks, and hospitals are well prepared with adequate supplies and beds during the winter surge.

Proper hand washing hygiene and avoiding close contact with sick people are among the standard preventive actions that still help greatly in preventing the development of hMPV.