New Delhi: Once bitten, twice shy. This proverb best explains how the world is at an edge the moment they hear of a mystery virus outbreak emerging from China. It’s only been five years since the COVID pandemic brought every country in the planet on its knees and we do whatever it takes to not let another such situation arise. So, when news reports started pouring in from Beijing about the outbreak of a human metapneumovirus (HMPV), everyone sat up to take notice. There are reports doing the rounds that hospitals and crematoriums in China are overwhelmed due to the surge of infections. Although there has been no official confirmation or announcement about the same. Well, there was none during the start of COVID from Wuhan (a city in China and the hotspot for the virus) as well. So should India be concerned about this new outbreak and a new mystery illness?
The healthcare agencies in the country have been quick to respond with clarity regarding the HMPV and the exact circumstance in the country at the moment. The monitoring is multi-pronged and thorough. From the National Centre for Disease Control giving us health updates every hour to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issuing a well drafted notice which allayed the fears that we may have had regarding this rNA virus. Dr Atul Goyal, an official working for the DGHS has advised taking general precautions against all respiratory infections but has reiterated that
“There is nothing to be alarmed about the present situation,” Dr Goyal told reporters.
HMPV causes common cold and respiratory problems
The HMPV is a normal respiratory problem that causes the common cold. The DGHS has already analysed data on respiratory outbreaks that have happened in the country and the findings have been positive thus far. “There is no substantial increase in December 2024 data and no cases which have been reported in large numbers from any of our institutions,” Goyal said at the press conference.
The HMPV outbreak may not cause an immediate concern to neighbouring countries but the spread of the infection must be contained as there is not enough research on the specific virus that tells about the impact it may have on immunocompromised patients or on very young children, including infants and toddlers. The virus which was accidentally discovered over a decade ago is said to severely impact around 1 per cent of the child population but has the nature of the virus undergone a transformation that our scientists are not aware of yet?
“There is a remote possibility of that yes. That’s why even though the HMPV doesn’t present any imminent danger at present, we would not want for this infection to spread in large swatches of population (like India). Respiratory problems also need clinical support and a big number can overwhelm hospitals. We don’t want that panic situation to arise again, hence care needs to be taken both by the government as well as the common people,” says infectious disease expert Dr Ishwar Gilada.
According to him, what also needs monitoring is the cocktail of viruses that is doing the rounds. It’s not just the HMPV that is bothersome for China, there are at least four other flu variants which may be driving the surge in the country.
Let’s not forget COVID is still around
India has reported zero COVID cases from most parts of the country in 2024 but epidemiologists haven’t given us the clean chit of having eradicated the disease entirely. “There are stray mutations still around. The Covid virus will continue to mutate and spring up new variants but with the vaccination and with most countries having reached sero prevalence, the impact of this virus may be negligible,” says Dr Amarmani Tripathy from AIIMS.
There are still reports of some confirmed COVID-19 cases coming from parts of China but the virulence is not known. Whether the surge of infections is only due to the HMPV or due to a combination of viruses is being studied critically by scientists of the world. For the moment, there is no present danger from the HMPV solely. Although, as advised by Dr Goyal and Dr Gilada, individual hygiene will go a long way in preventing infections to grow and spread.
The symptoms of this viral disease is the same as every common cold, categories with an itchy throat, runny nose, headaches, difficult in breathing and sometimes accompanied by a low grade fever. “The trick is to be aware of symptoms and know when to panic. Most of the times, these can be treated at home,” Dr Gilada informs.
The human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common respiratory problem that is caused by a common cold or a flu. It may not have severe outcomes in a healthy body, experts in India have allayed fears amid news of the outbreak coming from China. Maintaining hygiene SOPs have been advised but the right thing to do is to keep calm! Indian health care agencies are monitoring the situation closely and it’s very unlikely that a COVID-type situation will arise now. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
