Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in northern China are on a decline, a health official said on Sunday easing international concerns over a potential pandemic.
“The human metapneumovirus is not a new virus, and has been with humans for at least several decades,” Wang Liping, researcher at Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said.
“At present, the rate of positive cases in human metapneumovirus detection is fluctuating, and the rate of positive cases in northern provinces is declining, and the rate of positive cases among patients aged 14 and below has started to decline,” she added.
Wang said that the respiratory illnesses currently spreading in China are linked to known pathogens, with no new infectious diseases detected.
Recent concerns over a spike in HMPV cases in northern China grew after images of overcrowded hospitals filled with masked patients circulated online. However, the World Health Organization said it has not received reports of any unusual outbreaks in China or globally.
Experts emphasize that HMPV differs from Covid-19, as it has existed for decades and most people, particularly children by the age of five, have developed some level of immunity to it.
Meanwhile, health experts have stressed that HMPV is not a new virus and have urged the public to remain calm while following basic preventive measures.
HMPV is a virus related to the respiratory syncytial virus and it typically causes flu or cold-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and nasal congestion. While these symptoms usually resolve on their own, the virus can lead to lower respiratory tract infections in young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
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