There has been a lot of talk online that China is battling another epidemic after many posts on social media alleging that the country’s hospitals are overburdened writes economictimes.indiatimes.com.
Reports suggest China is facing another epidemic five years after the outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, which caused prolonged lockdowns and saw millions of deaths worldwide.
China is currently dealing with an outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), and videos on social media purportedly show overwhelmed hospitals and overwhelmed healthcare systems.
Health experts have raised concerns about HMPV, a respiratory virus found elsewhere in the region that plagues several Asian countries.
“Recently detected cases include pathogens such as rhinovirus and human metapneumovirus, with human metapneumovirus cases among people under the age of 14 showing an increasing trend, especially in the northern provinces,” according to a report published in Reuters.
Although reports and social media posts describe a crisis, Chinese authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) have yet to declare a state of emergency.
The wave of infections is being analyzed, especially because it coincides with the winter season, when respiratory diseases usually peak.
According to reports, HMPV is spreading rapidly along with several viruses such as influenza A, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Covid-19.
Meanwhile, China has played down the flu outbreak and said the country is safe for travel.
India’s Ministry of Health has assured that there is no cause for alarm regarding reports of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) from China and is monitoring the situation.
What is the HMPV virus on the rise in China?
Discovered in 2001, HMPV belongs to the Pneumoviridae family, the same family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It usually causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections, presenting with symptoms similar to a common cold or flu.
HMPV is a respiratory virus that causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections. It affects individuals of all ages, with young children, older adults and people with compromised immune systems being the most vulnerable, according to the CDC.
Symptoms commonly associated with HMPV, as described by the CDC, include: cough and runny or stuffy nose, fever, sore throat, or shortness of breath in severe cases.
In some cases, the infection can progress to bronchitis, pneumonia or asthma exacerbations.
Children under the age of five, especially infants, and those over 65, and people with weakened immune systems or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD are at higher risk.
HMPV is spread through droplets from coughing or sneezing, close contact such as touching or shaking hands, contaminated surfaces, followed by touching the mouth, nose or eyes.
According to the CDC, HMPV has a seasonal pattern, circulating in late winter and spring in temperate regions.
What can you do to prevent it?
The CDC recommends the following steps to reduce the risk of HMPV and other respiratory illnesses:
-Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
-Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
- Wear masks in crowded places wherever there is an epidemic
-Stay home when you are sick to prevent the spread of the virus
- Regularly clean frequently touched surfaces.
