Five years have passed since the first news about the new coronavirus. recent reports The outbreak of an obscure respiratory virus in China may raise understandable concerns.
Chinese authorities issue first warning about human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in 2023but media coverage This indicates that the number of infected people may increase again during China’s winter season.
For most people, hMPV causes symptoms similar to a cold or the flu. In rare cases, hMPV can cause serious infections. But it is unlikely to cause the next pandemic.
China is facing a new virus outbreak, with HMPV spreading rapidly and causing symptoms similar to influenza and COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/tkp7TQ9xCD
— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) January 4, 2025
What is hMPV?
hMPV first discovered In 2001, Dutch scientists conducted an experiment on a group of children who had tested negative for other known respiratory viruses.
But it probably existed long before that. sample test since the 1950s They have demonstrated antibodies to the virus, suggesting that infection has been common for at least several decades. Research since then hMPV has been found in almost every region of the world.
Data from Australia before the coronavirus pandemic showed that hMPV was the third most commonly detected virus in adults and children with respiratory infections. The two most common in adults were: influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (respiratory syncytial virus), in children RSV and parainfluenza.
Like influenza, hMPV is a more serious illness for people who: young and older people.
Research shows that most children are exposed early in life; the majority of children By age 5, children develop antibodies that indicate previous infection. This generally reduces the severity of subsequent infections in older children and adults.
In young children, hMPV most commonly causes upper respiratory tract infections, with symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, fever, and ear infections. These symptoms usually subside within a few days to a week. in a child1-2 weeks For adults.
Most infections caused by hMPV are relatively mild, but it can cause more severe illness in people with underlying health conditions, such as heart disease.
Complications include: pneumoniaaccompanied by shortness of breath, fever, and wheezing. hMPV can also worsen existing lung diseases such as asthma and emphysema.
Furthermore, infectious diseases could be serious It is more common in people with weakened immune systems, especially those who have undergone bone marrow or lung transplants.
However, the generally benign nature of the disease, the widespread detection of antibodies reflecting widespread population exposure and immunity, and the lack of known major pandemics in the past due to hMPV, combined with It is suggested.
Is there a vaccine or treatment?
hMPV is thought to be transmitted by contact. respiratory secretionseither in the air or on contaminated surfaces. Therefore, you can reduce your risk of infection by taking personal hygiene measures and avoiding close contact with others when you are unwell.
This virus is a distant relative of RSV. vaccination products Recently, vaccines and monoclonal antibodies have become available. This led to expectations that similar products might be developed for hMPV. moderna recently started trials of an mRNA hMPV vaccine.
There are no treatments that have been clearly proven to be effective. However, in the case of patients who are seriously unwell certain antiviral drugs It might bring some benefit.
Why are we hearing so many reports about respiratory viruses now?
Since the coronavirus pandemic, the patterns of many respiratory infections have changed. For example, the flu season in Australia looks like this: started early (The peak is June-July, not August-September).
Many countries, including Australia, are reporting an increase in the number of pertussis cases (whooping cough).
In China, an increase in the number of infected people has been reported. mycoplasmasimilar to influenza and hMPV, is a bacterial cause of pneumonia.
There are many factors that may influence the epidemiology of respiratory pathogens.
These include public health measures taken during the coronavirus pandemic, environmental factors such as climate change, and, for some diseases, interruptions in respiratory virus transmission due to changes in vaccination rates following the pandemic.
This may also be a normal change seen with respiratory infections. For example, whooping cough epidemics are known to occur. every 3-4 years.
There is still no stable product for hMPV in Australia. monitoring system To get a better idea of what a “normal” hMPV season looks like. Therefore, international reporting of outbreaks makes it important to monitor available data on hMPV and other respiratory viruses to inform local public health policy.
Allen ChenProfessor of Infectious Diseases; monash university
This article is republished from conversation Under Creative Commons License. please read original article.
