By Muhammad Amaan with agency report
Last week, reports of the respiratory tract infection outbreak in China and flu in the United Kingdom, have led to heightened fears about the reoccurrence of COVID-19.
This virus has affected many lives and led to several months of travel restrictions.
While the National Health Service of the United Kingdom announced it was struggling to contain the flu outbreak that has seen over 5,000 patients hospitalised, China said it has been dealing with the virus outbreak since December.
The virus, Human Metapneumovirus, also known as HMPV is an upper respiratory tract infection that causes symptoms similar to the flu.
It can cause illnesses ranging from mild cold-like symptoms to severe respiratory infections, particularly in young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
While there is no treatment or vaccine for HMPV, rest, hydration and fever management, have been the primary approach to recovery.
Symptoms of the virus include cough, fever, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, wheezing, bronchitis or pneumonia (in vulnerable populations such as very young children, older people, patients with low immunity and those on cancer treatment, uncontrolled diabetes, etc).
WHO’s stance
In an article titled, “Trends of acute respiratory infection, including human metapneumovirus, in the Northern Hemisphere,” the World Health Organisation clarified that acute respiratory infections were common this season.
It stated, “In many countries of the Northern Hemisphere, trends in acute respiratory infections increase at this time of year. These increases are typically caused by seasonal epidemics of respiratory pathogens such as seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other common respiratory viruses, including human metapneumovirus (hMPV), as well as mycoplasma pneumoniae.
“Many countries conduct routine surveillance for acute respiratory infections and common respiratory pathogens.”
The WHO further noted that while influenza-like illness and/or acute respiratory infection rates have increased in recent weeks and are above baseline levels, they followed the usual seasonal trends.
“The observed increase in respiratory pathogen detections is within the range expected for this time of year during the Northern hemisphere winter. In China, influenza is the most commonly detected respiratory pathogen currently affecting people with acute respiratory infections,” the agency stated.
The WHO recommends that individuals in areas where it is winter take normal precautions to prevent the spread and reduce risks posed by respiratory pathogens, especially to the most vulnerable.
HMPV different from COVID-19
Virologists have stated that although HMPV is a respiratory illness with symptoms resembling the flu and COVID-19, it is a different virus.
While Covid has a treatment and vaccine, there is no antiviral or vaccine for HMPV yet.
The WHO and several sources note that HMPV has been around for over 20 years but COVID-19 was a fairly new disease.
It adds that HMPV became more recognised due to increased diagnostic efforts.
Also, while HMPV and COVID spread through the air, by way of respiration and can affect persons of all age groups, the virus and the symptoms are different.
COVID-19 symptoms include loss of smell and taste, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal disturbances which are not seen in HMPV.
Data from China’s Centre for Disease Control reveal that aside from HMPV, there has been a rise in other common respiratory infections, including the seasonal flu and respiratory syncytial virus.
How worried should you be?
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assured Nigerians that the virus risk in the country was moderate citing an assessment it conducted with the Federal Ministry of Health and partners.
NCDC’s Director General, Dr Jide Idris, further noted that while it was closely monitoring the situation and has implemented actions to ensure public health safety, he emphasised that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had not declared HMPV a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
However, virologists have urged persons with compromised immunity and the elderly to practice recommended safety procedures such as handwashing, avoiding crowded areas and wearing a face mask.
