Everything You Should Know About HMPV Outbreak

Reports of respiratory tract infections in China and flu outbreaks in the United Kingdom have sparked concerns about a potential reoccurrence of COVID-19.

While COVID-19 has a treatment and vaccine, experts clarify that the virus causing the outbreak, Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), is distinct.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that HMPV is a respiratory infection that presents symptoms similar to the flu, ranging from mild cold-like signs to severe respiratory illnesses.

It primarily affects young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms include fever, cough, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, wheezing, and, in severe cases, bronchitis or pneumonia. Currently, there is no specific treatment or vaccine for HMPV, and management involves rest, hydration, and controlling fever.

In the United Kingdom, over 5,000 patients have been hospitalized due to a flu outbreak, while China has reported increasing respiratory infections since December, with HMPV being a notable cause.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), these seasonal respiratory infections, including HMPV, are common during winter.

Other respiratory pathogens such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and mycoplasma pneumoniae also contribute to this trend.

The WHO emphasizes that the rise in respiratory infections in the Northern Hemisphere follows typical seasonal patterns and does not indicate an unusual threat. In China, influenza remains the most detected respiratory pathogen, alongside HMPV.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assessed the risk of HMPV in Nigeria as moderate.

NCDC Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, reassured Nigerians that the situation is being closely monitored and no Public Health Emergency of International Concern has been declared by the WHO.

Virologists stress that while HMPV and COVID-19 share similarities, they are different viruses. Unlike COVID-19, HMPV has no vaccine or antiviral treatment.

Individuals, especially those with compromised immunity, are advised to practice preventive measures such as handwashing, wearing face masks, and avoiding crowded areas to reduce the risk of respiratory infections.

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