The Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak in china has prompted a senior official of the nation's repository of technical information on medical matters to advise against panic. Dr. Atul Goel, an official with the Directorate broad of health Services (DGHS), recommended broad measures against any respiratory illnesses. "... Otherwise, there is nothing to be alarmed about the present situation," Dr Goel said.

Doctors have stated that as there is no particular antiviral therapy for HMPV, prevention is the key to halting its spread.
 
"Reports of a metapneumovirus epidemic in china have been circulating. On that matter, let me be absolutely clear. Like any other respiratory virus that causes the common cold, metapneumovirus can induce flu-like symptoms in the elderly and young, Dr. Goel told reporters on Friday.
 
"We have examined data pertaining to respiratory epidemics that have occurred nationwide. No significant rise in december 2024 data has been observed, and no significant number of cases have been recorded from any of our institutions," he stated.
 
According to Dr. Goel, hospitals often have beds and resources ready for the heightened spread of respiratory virus illnesses that occur throughout the winter.
 
"One thing I would like to convey to the public is to take general precautions that we use against all respiratory infections, which means if somebody has a cough and cold, you should avoid coming in contact with a lot of people so that the infection does not spread," he stated.
 
"Use a distinct handkerchief or towel for coughing and sneezing and take normal medicines that are required for cold or fever whenever it is there, otherwise there is nothing to be alarmed about the present situation," he said.

According to ANI, the Union health Ministry's National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is also keeping a careful eye on cases of seasonal and respiratory influenza and communicating with foreign organizations.
 
The new respiratory disease's global growth in china has sparked concerns about the possibility of another COVID-like scenario.
 
On Tuesday, china maintained that it has disclosed information on COVID-19 "without holding anything back" in response to the World health Organization's (WHO) request for further data and access to better understand the disease's causes.
 
In december 2020, COVID-19 first surfaced in Wuhan, a city in central China. Since then, it has killed millions of people, destroyed businesses, and overwhelmed health systems. There is a "moral and scientific imperative" for china to divulge more information, according to a statement released by the WHO on Monday.
 
China responded by claiming to have made the "largest contribution to global origin tracing research" and defending its transparency.
 
 


 

Find out more: