No Need To Panic The HMPV Virus Has Entered Indonesia, Minister Of Health: Nothing Happened

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin (right) after the release of Fellowship Participants Kardiointervention to China and Japan in Jakarta, Monday (6/1/2025). ANTARA/Mecca Yumna

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) virus had been found in Indonesia. All cases found involve children.

Budi emphasized that HMPV, which recently spread in China, is not actually a new virus. So, he asked the public not to panic when they found out that HMPV was found in Indonesia.

"HMPV has been found in Indonesia for a long time, if you check if it exists, it's there. I myself saw the data in several labs yesterday, it turns out that several children were affected by HMPV," Budi said in his statement, Tuesday, January 7.

Budi emphasized that the HMPV virus is different from the COVID-19 virus. COVID-19 is a new virus, while HMPV is an old virus that is similar to the flu. The human immune system has known this virus for a long time and is able to respond well.

"Unlike the COVID-19 that only appeared a few years ago, HMPV is an old virus that has existed since 2001 and has been circulating around the world since 2001. So far nothing has happened either," said Budi.

Budi also emphasized that information about the soaring HMPV cases in China is not true. This has also been confirmed by the Chinese government and the World Health Organization (WHO). The increase in cases of common flu in four seasons countries such as China often occurs during winter.

"I've seen the data, what goes up in China is not the HMPV virus but the H1N1 type or the ordinary flu virus. HMPV is ranked number three in China in terms of prevalence, so that's not true)," he explained.

On that occasion, Budi emphasized that HMPV is not a deadly virus. So, people only need to maintain a clean and healthy lifestyle.

The most important thing is to remain calm and alert. By following 3M's health protocol, maintaining distance, washing hands and wearing masks, just like COVID-19, we can overcome this virus well," explained Budi.

When a person is infected with HMPV, the symptoms that appear are similar to the common cold, but there are also those with this infection who show severe symptoms. These symptoms can occur especially in someone who is infected with HMPV for the first time. This reason makes children have great potential to be infected with this disease and shows severe symptoms.