Social media videos allegedly revealed that hospitals in China are overburdened by an increase in respiratory diseases, such as human metapneumovirus (HMPV).
According to social media posts, hospitals and cemeteries are congested as a result of outbreaks of several viruses, including Covid-19, influenza A, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and HMPV. Health officials are concerned about the rapid spread of HMPV, which has symptoms akin to those of the flu and COVID-19.
Videos showed overcrowded hospitals and unsubstantiated reports of a Chinese state of emergency. Fifteen years after COVID-19 upended the world, the scenario has raised concerns about a possible pandemic. However, these assertions have not been verified by any reliable sources.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Chinese health authorities have not issued any emergency alerts or reported a new pandemic. Additionally, the WHO has not identified any HMPV-related health emergencies.
About HMPV
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a major cause of acute respiratory infections, according to the American Lung Association. HMPV, which was first identified by Dutch researchers in 2001, is usually transmitted by intimate contact with infected people, either by touching contaminated objects like toys or doorknobs or by respiratory secretions from coughing or sneezing.
HMPV tends to spread more widely in the United States in the winter and spring, when other respiratory illnesses like the flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are more common. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) symptoms can range in intensity, but they typically include fever, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and cough. Additionally, some people may have dyspnoea, or shortness of breath, and wheezing. A rash may occasionally appear as part of the infection.
Who will it affect?
The elderly, children, and people with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to consequences from HMPV infection. Touching contaminated surfaces or being in close proximity to an infected person can spread the virus. Cold-like symptoms brought on by HMPV usually go away on their own in two to five days.
Children ages 5 and under account for the majority of HMPV cases. Pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract illnesses can strike 5–16% of people.
All age groups can develop upper and lower respiratory infections as a result of HMPV. It is more common in young children and the elderly, though, and has a higher propensity to develop into diseases like pneumonia, bronchiolitis, or bronchitis.
Although a history of lung disorders such as emphysema, asthma, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) does not raise the risk of acquiring HMPV, these illnesses can exacerbate symptoms if infected. This also holds true for those whose immune systems are compromised, such those receiving chemotherapy or recuperating after organ transplants.