However, according to Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dac Phu - former Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health), up to now, the World Health Organization (WHO) has not issued any warning information about this epidemic. According to information from China, this respiratory disease is caused by common influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
HMPV virus disease still occurs every year, especially in winter and spring. This is not a strange or new virus. It is also one of the viruses that cause respiratory diseases in humans. When the virus development season returns, along with the relaxation of epidemic prevention measures, the community's immunity has decreased, leading to the recent increase in the number of cases.
Currently, with the conditions for testing to find the agent not being difficult, countries with the ability are testing to find out what kind of virus it is. This time, China found the agent to be Human Metapneumovirus. The disease caused by the HMPV virus is not strange, not new and the symptoms are similar to the common cold or flu and are also seasonal.
Explaining the reason for the increase in cases in China, Mr. Phu said that during the period of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people infected with the MPV virus decreased, causing community immunity to also decrease. Meanwhile, the disease caused by the HMPV virus still occurs every year, especially in winter and spring. Therefore, when the virus development season returns, along with the relaxation of epidemic prevention measures, the decrease in community immunity has led to the recent increase in the number of cases.
“These are common viruses, not dangerous, so people should not panic. However, it is necessary to pay attention to disease prevention like other respiratory diseases. When having symptoms of cough, fever, runny nose... it is necessary to limit going to crowds and public places to avoid infecting others. At the same time, it is necessary to wash hands with soap and clean regularly.
When in contact with people showing symptoms of the disease, you should wear a mask. In short, you should take the same preventive measures as for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections,” Mr. Phu advised.
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a virus that can cause flu-like illness in people of all ages, although some people are at higher risk, including young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
The virus was only discovered in 2001 and is in the same family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - another flu-like virus.
HMPV is usually spread from person to person through droplets from coughing and sneezing, person-to-person contact such as hugging and kissing, and touching contaminated surfaces and objects and then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes.
HMPV circulates seasonally with influenza and similar illnesses, being most active in late winter and spring.
There is no specific treatment for HMPV and no vaccine to prevent it. Patients are generally advised to treat it like the flu and stay home while their body fights the infection. Herd immunity against this virus is higher than against other viruses.
