United States: A highly contagious virus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), is spreading rapidly in northern China, with health officials reporting a spike in cases. Children aged 14 and under are the most affected. While not as well-known as other viruses, HMPV is not new—it was first discovered in 2001 and is related to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to the CDC.
Beijing said that the figures have been as a result of a normal seasonal pattern, which is something that the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs focuses on Friday noting that this kinda Respiratory infections are more frequent in this winter than in like other seasons … the diseases which already seem to be less serious and affect fewer people compared to the same period in the previous year.
As reported by the Fox News, the CDC has already stated that it is tracking the virus through the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS).
The CDC knows about reported increases in HMPV in China and is in contact with international partners and monitoring reports of a rise in the illness, a CDC spokesman said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“These reports are not currently a major issue in the United States though some degree of HMPV transmission can be expected year around and especially during the winter respiratory virus season.”
The agency also said, “We can also expect that existing surveillance systems will quickly identify any uptick in cases of HMPV in the U.S. “
Unfortunately, there is no much conclusion from CDC, however CDC will still be conducting prayers and offering crucial details and information to the public.
Fortunately, the source is not H1N1 Influenza A as others possessed; it remains prevalent and currently causing hospitalization in China.
HMPV is notorious in that it is usually mild but can also cause pneumonia, as Dr. Marc Siegel of the clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and a Fox News senior medical analyst has stated.
”It is of high risk to children but is not considered to have pandemic potential in the broader population he told Fox News Digital.
Symptoms and spread
HMPV is not exclusive to elderly adults, but individuals at the highest risk of serious infection are those below the age of five years, the aged sixty years and above as well as those adults with key chronic diseases or compromised immune systems according to the CDC.
According to the health agency, coronavirus symptoms are similar to general flu, for majority of the affected persons, they experience flu like symptoms, including fever, nasal congestion and shortness of breath.