HMPV – latest: Bali monitors flights from China as Beijing urged to be transparent over cases
Authorities in Bali have asked nationals from China and Malaysia to fill out a health pass three days before their arrivals in the island nation
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Your support makes all the difference.Indonesia has started monitoring flights from China and Malaysia amid concern over rising HMPV infections across the region.
Those travelling to Bali will have to fill out a form three days before their arrival to the island providing a record of passengers’ health, according to local health authorities.
It comes as more countries reported spikes in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections, though largely in line with winter seasonal trends.
Singapore said on Wednesday it had witnessed a spike in HMPV infections at the end of 2024 but added that it was consistent with expectations due to increased social gatherings and holiday travel.
Dr Sanjaya Senanayake, infectious disease expert associate professor of medicine at The Australian National University, said it was “vital” for China to share information in a “timely manner”.
The virus, which causes flu or cold-like symptoms, has seen cases spiking across northern Chinese provinces this winter, particularly among children.
Amid a flurry of media interest, India’s health minister JP Nadda said HMPV’s “occurrence is not new” and there was “no reason to worry”.
What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
As spikes in a respiratory virus and images of overwhelmed intensive care units emerge, there is a worrying echo of the early days of Covid. Zoë Beaty asks if Beijing is downplaying what is happening in the northern provinces and how worried the rest of us should be
ICYMI: Bali ramps up monitoring of arrivals from China and Malaysia amid HMPV outbreak
Indonesian authorities have begun monitoring flights from China and Malaysia due to concerns over the increasing number of HMPV infections.
According to the local health authorities, nationals from China and Malaysia arriving in Bali have to fill out a health pass three days before their arrival to the island to keep a record of passengers’ health issues like body temperature, cold or flu symptoms.
Everything we know about HMPV in the UK: Symptoms, case numbers and how to get a test
A surge in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China has prompted some alarm and led to fears of a possible worldwide outbreak.
With reports of overcrowding in Chinese hospitals, leaders in the country are attempting to control a new wave of the virus with a spike in cases in northern regions, particularly amongst children.
A surge in cases has also been reported in India, Malaysia and Kazakhstan.
HMPV is a respiratory disease that causes flu or cold-like symptoms. Most cases are mild, but infection can increase health risks - particularly for the elderly, young children and people with a low immune system - and lead to severe complications such as pneumonia.
Everything we know about HMPV in the UK: Symptoms, case numbers and how to get a test
There has been a surge in HMPV cases in northern China
How worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts explain
An increase in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in China has received widespread media coverage, but leading scientists and public health experts say there isn’t yet a cause for alarm.
Chinese health authorities last month reported a rise in children aged 14 and under testing positive for HMPV as part of a broader update on the respiratory virus season.
Photos and videos posted on social media in recent days show crowded hospitals in China, sparking concerns over the virus spreading to other countries and causing a Covid-like outbreak.
The concerns come just as the world completes five years since the novel coronavirus infection was first reported in China’s Wuhan.
However, experts emphasise that HMPV is neither new nor poses an unusual threat to global health.
How worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts weigh in
Scientists say virus is neither new nor poses unusual threat to global health
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
Authorities in Beijing have downplayed surge in cases, which comes five years after world was first alerted to emergence of Covid-19
Singapore experienced spike in HMPV cases at end of 2024
Singapore experienced a rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections at the end of 2024, the ministry of health said, but added that it was consistent with previous year-end trends due to increased social gatherings and holiday travel.
China, India, and Malaysia have also reported spikes in HMPV cases and Bali authorities have ramped up monitoring of Chinese and Malaysian nationals arriving in the city.
Singapore’s ministry of health has advised practising good hygiene, coughing and sneezing etiquette and hand washing practices to mitigate the spread.
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
China is experiencing a surge in infections of a respiratory virus, leading to reports of overcrowded hospitals, new monitoring measures and public concerns about an outbreak.
The virus, identified as human metapneumovirus (HMPV), has seen cases spiking across northern Chinese provinces this winter, particularly among children.
The outbreak comes five years after the world was first alerted to the emergence of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China, which later turned into a global pandemic with seven million deaths reported.
Photos and videos of people wearing masks in hospitals in China emerged on social media platforms and local reports compared the scenes to the initial outbreak of Covid.
Health authorities are implementing new measures to monitor and manage the spread of pneumonia cases of unknown origin. Nonetheless, Beijing has downplayed the developments as an annual winter occurrence.
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
Authorities in Beijing have downplayed surge in cases, which comes five years after world was first alerted to emergence of Covid-19
What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
As spikes in a respiratory virus and images of overwhelmed intensive care units emerge, there is a worrying echo of the early days of Covid. Zoë Beaty asks if Beijing is downplaying what is happening in the northern provinces and how worried the rest of us should be
Nepal to step up testing for HMPV
Nepal plans to test respiratory illness patients for HMPV to assess its spread this winter, The Kathmandu Post reported.
While the virus has been detected in the country in the past, officials aim to confirm its presence by testing those with influenza-like symptoms who test negative for influenza.
“Although infection of human metapneumovirus is not new to our country and has been detected several times in the past, we have decided to carry out testing on specimens from patients suffering from influenza-like symptoms who test negative for influenza virus,” Dr Yadu Chandra Ghimire, director of the epidemiology and disease control division.
Dr Ghimire advised against panic, saying: “This virus has been circulating in our communities for years. We usually don’t test unless there is a spike in new cases. We have decided to carry out testing, as the rise in infections in our neighbours have become headline news”.
Singapore experienced spike in HMPV cases at end of 2024
Singapore experienced a rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections at the end of 2024, the ministry of health said, but added that it was consistent with previous year-end trends due to increased social gatherings and holiday travel.
China, India, and Malaysia have also reported spikes in HMPV cases and Bali authorities have ramped up monitoring of Chinese and Malaysian nationals arriving in the city.
Singapore’s ministry of health has advised practising good hygiene, coughing and sneezing etiquette and hand washing practices to mitigate the spread.
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