HMPV virus - latest: Doctors say it is vital China shares infection data as India ramps up monitoring
China, Malaysia and Kazakhstan are among the other countries that have reported cases of the virus
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Your support makes all the difference.A disease expert has urged China to share infection data amid an outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) which has spread across four countries.
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, that causes flu or cold-like symptoms, has seen cases spiking across northern Chinese provinces this winter, particularly among children.
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.
India has also ramped up monitoring for cases of HMPV after it spread to the country, as well as to Malaysia and Kazakhstan.
India’s health minister JP Nadda said HMPV’s “occurrence in India is not new” and there was “no reason to worry” despite increased testing.
What is HMPV?
Human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, is a respiratory virus that causes symptoms similar to the common cold and influenza. While the illness is typically mild, it can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, particularly in infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
The virus is not new but has gained attention amid a surge in cases, particularly in children under 14 in northern China.
First identified in 2001, HMPV is a single-stranded RNA virus that spreads through respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated surfaces. Cases have been previously identified in various countries, including the United Kingdom.
Its symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and fatigue, with an incubation period of three to six days. Unlike Covid-19, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for HMPV; treatment primarily involves managing symptoms.
How HMPV is treated
Like most common respiratory illnesses, HMPV usually clears up on its own.
Treatment of symptoms is usually in the form of medications to control pain and fever, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol
Patients with more severe wheezing and coughing may require a temporary inhaler, according to the American Lung Association.
Three cases of HMPV have been detected in India on Monday, according to local reports.
Two cases were reported in Karnataka and one in Gujarat.
India’s Union Health Minister JP Nadda said that health experts have clarified that HMPV is not a new virus.
He said: "It was first identified in 2001 and it has been circulating in the entire world since many years.
“On recent reports, the cases of HMPV in China, the Health Ministry, the ICMR and the National Centre for Disease Control are keeping a close watch on the situation in China as well as in the neighbouring countries.
“WHO has taken cognisance of the situation and will share its report shortly with us.”
How to get a test for HMPV
In most cases, HMPV symptoms are mild and will fade in a week. Those who are otherwise healthy and only experiencing mild conditions are unlikely to need to visit a GP.
However, people who are in higher risk categories may wish to visit their GP to be safe. A trip may also be advisable for those experiencing severe and persistent HMPV-like symptoms. They will be able to diagnose you and provide a test if necessary.
Everything we know about HMPV cases in the UK – and how to get a test
My colleague Albert Toth reports:
Everything we know about HMPV cases in the UK – and how to get a test
There has been a surge in HMPV cases in northern China
What Causes HMPV?
HMPV is commonly spread from person to person through close contact with someone who is infected, according to the American Lung Association
Coughing and sneezing or touching objects such as toys or doorknobs that have the virus on them can spread the illness.
It is more likely to circulate during the winter and spring months when other similar infections, such as RSV and the flu, are prevalent.
How was Human metapneumovirus discovered?
Researchers in the Netherlands discovered the virus in 2001.
Scientists collected 28 samples from children in the Netherlands who had unexplained respiratory illnesses.
No recognised illnesses were detected in their blood, despite the fact that a number of them had severe illnessess and required mechanical breathing.
Before being viewed under an electron microscope, the samples were grown in several cell types from dogs, chickens, and monkeys.
They noticed something that seemed to be structurally similar to viruses in the paramyxoviridae family, which are responsible for respiratory diseases like respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, measles, and mumps.
A detailed examination of the virus’s genome revealed a close relative in the form of the bird-infecting avian metapneumovirus. The novel pathogen was given the name human metapneumovirus. It had probably evolved from birds to humans at some point, according to scientists.
Pictured: Cases of HMPV rise in India
Rising cases of HMPV in China
The spike in cases coincides with colder weather and increased indoor activity, conditions that typically fuel the spread of respiratory viruses. Health officials emphasize that this surge is consistent with seasonal trends.
China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration recently reported an increase in respiratory infections, including HMPV, during the winter. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has not flagged the situation as a global health emergency, but the rise in cases has prompted authorities to bolster monitoring systems.
A pilot programme has been launched to track pneumonia of unknown origin, ensuring labs and health agencies report and manage cases more effectively, state broadcaster CCTV reported, quoting an administration official at a news conference.
Expert says ‘situation is very different to Covid-19 pandemic’
Jill Carr, a virologist in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University, Australia, said the situation is “very different to the Covid-19 pandemic”.
She told Politico: “The virus [Covid-19] was completely new in humans and arose from a spill-over from animals and spread to pandemic levels because there was no prior exposures or protective immunity in the community.”
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