debut: 12/22/15
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A reported surge of another respiratory virus in China five years after the dawn of COVID-19 has some experiencing déjà vu. But experts say these claims are unlikely to be of any concern.
Reports and images of crowded Chinese hospitals have sparked a frenzy on social media, with some expressing fears that human metapneumovirus (HMPV) could kick off a pandemic. But given how common and relatively mild HMPV can be, these reports are more likely a symptom of a regular flu season.
“It’s a little hard to tell from here,” noted Dr. Allison McGreer, an infectious disease physician at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital. “But I think what’s happening in China is just a normal winter season — unpleasant and deadly for a lot of people, but not abnormal.”
The exact situation in the country is unclear, as neither China’s National Centre for Disease Control nor the World Health Organization (WHO) have confirmed a new outbreak or any declarations of emergency, as some on social media have claimed.
Typical of flu season, the country’s latest public health data indicate respiratory illnesses are on the rise, with influenza leading the pack, according to Newsweek. But they’ve also documented climbing rates of HMPV that have surpassed those of COVID-19, rhinovirus and adenovirus, with a 6.2 per cent test positivity rate.
What is HMPV?
HMPV is a common respiratory illness that can cause flu-like symptoms. It is not a new virus; first identified in 2001, according to the American Lung Association, experts say the disease has likely been with us for far longer.
“It’s a seasonal virus that may circulate throughout the year, but you see more of it in the winter months just like other respiratory viruses,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist with the University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital. The virus is commonly found in Canada as well.
Children under five, people over 65 and individuals with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to HMPV, much like other viruses of its ilk such as influenza or COVID-19. Similar to these diseases, HMPV can spread through respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing.
“The closer you are to somebody and the more time you spend close to them, the more likely it is to catch from person to person,” McGreer added
The virus usually infects the upper respiratory system, producing symptoms like coughing, sneezing or fever, Bogoch said. On rare occasions, it may infect the lower respiratory system, resulting in more severe symptoms like bronchitis or pneumonia.
There currently exists no antivirals or vaccines that target HMPV. But given the general mildness of the disease, treatment usually consists of “time and chicken soup,” Bogoch continued.
Source:
Reports and images of crowded Chinese hospitals have sparked a frenzy on social media, with some expressing fears that human metapneumovirus (HMPV) could kick off a pandemic. But given how common and relatively mild HMPV can be, these reports are more likely a symptom of a regular flu season.
“It’s a little hard to tell from here,” noted Dr. Allison McGreer, an infectious disease physician at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital. “But I think what’s happening in China is just a normal winter season — unpleasant and deadly for a lot of people, but not abnormal.”
The exact situation in the country is unclear, as neither China’s National Centre for Disease Control nor the World Health Organization (WHO) have confirmed a new outbreak or any declarations of emergency, as some on social media have claimed.
Typical of flu season, the country’s latest public health data indicate respiratory illnesses are on the rise, with influenza leading the pack, according to Newsweek. But they’ve also documented climbing rates of HMPV that have surpassed those of COVID-19, rhinovirus and adenovirus, with a 6.2 per cent test positivity rate.
What is HMPV?
HMPV is a common respiratory illness that can cause flu-like symptoms. It is not a new virus; first identified in 2001, according to the American Lung Association, experts say the disease has likely been with us for far longer.
“It’s a seasonal virus that may circulate throughout the year, but you see more of it in the winter months just like other respiratory viruses,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist with the University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital. The virus is commonly found in Canada as well.
Children under five, people over 65 and individuals with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to HMPV, much like other viruses of its ilk such as influenza or COVID-19. Similar to these diseases, HMPV can spread through respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing.
“The closer you are to somebody and the more time you spend close to them, the more likely it is to catch from person to person,” McGreer added
The virus usually infects the upper respiratory system, producing symptoms like coughing, sneezing or fever, Bogoch said. On rare occasions, it may infect the lower respiratory system, resulting in more severe symptoms like bronchitis or pneumonia.
There currently exists no antivirals or vaccines that target HMPV. But given the general mildness of the disease, treatment usually consists of “time and chicken soup,” Bogoch continued.
Source:
