How To Avoid The HMPV Virus? 7 Key Facts You Should Know
After reports of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in China, India has now recorded its own instances, raising several important questions. What are the symptoms? How serious is it? Has the government issued any official guidelines?
- By: Umam Noor
- Published: Jan 16, 2025 at 03:28 PM
New Delhi (Visvas News). Following reports of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in China, India has now also seen instances of this virus, sparking a flurry of questions. What are its symptoms? How severe is it? Has the government released any guidelines? To help you stay informed, here are seven crucial facts about HMPV that you need to know:
1) What is the HMPV virus?
The Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), identified globally since 2001, has recently surfaced in India. According to a press release on January 7,2025 at 10:26 am, five cases of this virus have been reported in the country.
2) Symptoms
According to an article by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HMPV is a respiratory virus whose symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion, sore throat, and shortness of breath, similar to the common cold. Apart from this, bronchiolitis and pneumonia can also occur in severe cases.
3) Who is most at risk
According to the US National Institute of Health (NIH), small children, the elderly, and people with low immunity are most susceptible to the HMPV virus. Additional Professor of the Department of Medicine at AIIMS Delhi, Dr Neeraj Nischal says, “This virus is like a common flu, whose cases usually increase in winter.”
4) How does the virus spread?
Senior Consultant, Respiratory and Pulmonary Care, Apollo Hospitals, Dr Nikhil Modi stated, “HMPV spreads through coughing, sneezing, contact, and presence of an infected person. But this virus is not as deadly as Covid-19.”
5) Prevention
A press release from the Ministry of Health advises several measures to prevent the spread of the HMPV. These include washing hands frequently with soap and water, avoiding touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unclean hands, maintaining distance from individuals showing symptoms, and covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing. Commenting on this, Dr Modi suggested, “We can follow similar precautions to those adopted during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
6) Treatment
According to the NIH website, infection of this virus can be detected through the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test and according to Doctor Neeraj Nischal, “No antiviral is available for this virus yet, because it is just like the common flu, hence its treatment is done according to the symptoms.”
7) Health Ministry advice
According to the Health Ministry, states have been advised to spread Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) efforts and raise public awareness about preventing the spread of the virus. Measures include frequent handwashing with soap and water, among others, such as using hand sanitisers and covering the mouth while coughing or sneezing.
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