JAKARTA - The Chinese government has denied any information about the spread of the "unknown virus" that causes respiratory tract infection in the country.
"HMPV (Human metapneumovirus) infections can heal by themselves. Calling this common virus an 'unknown virus' is inconsistent with basic science and is basically just to scare," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun at a press conference in Beijing on Friday (10/1) as reported by ANTARA.
Guo Jiakun said respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter in northern China and influenza viruses become common pathogens.
"The scale and overall intensity of respiratory infection diseases in China is lower than last year and HMPV as we have learned from the authorities, it is not a new virus," said Guo Jiakun.
HMPV, according to Guo Jiakun, has been detected for at least 60 years and is a common virus that causes upper respiratory tract infections.
"The Chinese government is seriously paying attention to the health of its own people and foreign nationals in China. Competent authorities and technical agencies in China are taking proactive steps to carry out strict supervision of various acute respiratory infection diseases and release the results of these surveillance," explained Guo Jiakun.
Guo Jiakun also said experts from the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention) had conveyed to the public several times about how to take steps to protect against the disease based on science.
"In addition, China and WHO remain in close and regular contact and share the latest information about respiratory diseases. We will continue to do what is necessary and do our best to ensure that Chinese citizens and foreign nationals feel comfortable, safe and easy to travel in China," said Guo Jiakun.
He also asked the public to work together to maintain personal and family health.
HMPV is one of many microorganisms or agents that causes acute respiratory infection disease (ARI), both in the upper and lower respiratory tracts that are found most of the year.
The CCDC previously said it was continuing to monitor the increase in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) but until now there is no evidence of an unusual outbreak or that there is a new virus or respiratory disease emerging in China.
The CCDC says winter and spring are seasons with high acute respiratory tract infections and an increased risk of respiratory tract infection transmission.
Acute respiratory infection diseases that need attention include infectious diseases caused by pathogens such as rhinovirus, influenza virus, adenovirus, mycoplasma pneumoniae, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), respiratory syncytial virus and novel coronavirus.
A spokesman for the World Health Organization (WHO) also said data from the Chinese government showed "there has been a recent increase in acute respiratory infections" but the overall scale and intensity of respiratory infections in China this year is lower than last year".
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the HMPV fatality rate was very low, making it difficult to find it while the healing process was the same as the common cold.
Transmission is similar to COVID-19 and Influenza, namely through breaths (droplets), with general symptoms of fever, cough, runny nose or if severe symptoms are accompanied by dyspnea or apnea occurs in babies under the age of six months.
HMPV can also heal by itself like the common cold. What is needed is a supportive treatment, for example by being given a fever, paracetamol or cold medication.
In people with a high risk of contracting the virus, such as children under the age of 14, the elderly, comorbid sufferers or the weak immune system, it is recommended to always wear a mask when in the crowd.
As a form of prevention, a clean and healthy lifestyle is needed, avoiding contact with patients or people with flu symptoms, and cleaning contaminated objects.
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