No Need To Panic, HMPV Recovers Faster If Patients Are Not Stressed

JAKARTA - Managing stress well plays an important role in accelerating the recovery from human metapneumovirus infection (HMPV). Excessive stress can weaken the immune system, thereby slowing down the healing process.

Therefore, maintaining calm and not panicking when facing this disease is the first step that can help the body fight infection more effectively.

Director of Budi Setia Langowan Hospital, dr. James Komaling, appealed to the public not to panic regarding the spread of HMPV. "Excessive panic will only increase stress, which in turn can reduce endurance," said James in Manado, as quoted by ANTARA.

He explained that the stress hormone produced by the body when experiencing panic can slow down the healing process. Although currently HMPV is a concern for many people, this virus is nothing new.

This virus was first discovered in the Netherlands in 2001 and generally did not cause dangerous conditions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. HMPV infections will usually heal by themselves in a few days.

Symptoms of HMPV infection are similar to common colds, including fever, headache, and mild to moderate respiratory problems. Even so, this virus still has to be watched out for, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, infants, children, and individuals with certain medical conditions, such as cancer and HIV, whose immune system tends to be weaker.

To prevent transmission of HMPV, the public is advised to apply preventive measures such as washing hands regularly, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, and covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

Currently, a special vaccine for HMPV is not yet available, so maintaining cleanliness and a healthy lifestyle is the best way to reduce the risk of infection.