Getting To Know HMPV, A Soaring Respiratory Disease In China

Illustration (Pexels/Andrea Piaqcuadio)

JAKARTA - Human Metapneumovirus or HMPV infection cases are experiencing a significant increase in China. This happened five years after the COVID-19 pandemic and became the attention of health authorities around the world.

Quoting from the Cleveland Clinic, on Friday, January 3, 2025, HMPV is a negative single-tanivirus that is included in the Pneumoviride family with the genus Metapneumovirus. This virus attacks the respiratory tract, which is quite risky in the body.

HMPV was first discovered in 2001, by a group of researchers in the Netherlands. They identified it in a sample of nasopharyngeal aspirations taken from children who had respiratory tract infections due to previously unknown pathogens.

This virus attacks children more, but does not rule out the possibility of people with other age groups experiencing it. This virus tends to be active during winter until the start of spring.

In China, this virus did experience a spike during winter, on December 16-22, 2024, to be precise, quoted by Reuters. Most of the people exposed in China are under the age of 14.

For the symptoms, China's Centers for Control and Prevention (China's CDC) has recorded a number of symptoms that are often encountered. Starting from coughing to fever, which would be at risk of complications if a person had previous comorbidities.

The symptoms include coughs, fever, nasal congestion, and fins. Severe cases can cause bronchitis or pneumonia, especially among infants, parents, and individuals with a weak immune system, China's CDC statement.

The spread of this virus occurs through droplets or aerosols from coughing or sneezing. Viruses can also be spread through close contact or exposure to contaminated environments.

Meanwhile, antiviral or vaccine treatments for HMPV have yet to be found. Handling this virus focuses more on reducing symptoms and prevention, such as by wearing masks in public places, maintaining social distancing, washing hands frequently, and adopting a healthy lifestyle.