China Promises To Be Transparent About Data On Breathing Channel Infection Diseases

The Chinese government has promised to be transparent in submitting data regarding an increase in respiratory tract infections in the country.

JAKARTA - The Chinese government has promised to be transparent in submitting data regarding an increase in respiratory tract infections in the country.

"The Chinese government has and will continue to release information about infectious diseases regularly and transparently in accordance with applicable laws," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday (7/1).

However, for data on what types of respiratory tract diseases are currently spreading and their location, Guo Jiakun asked the authorities, namely the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) confirmed that it continues to monitor the increase in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) but until now there is no evidence of an unusual outbreak or that a new virus or respiratory disease has emerged in China.

China's CDC 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".

Regarding the disease, the Indonesian Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin previously said that the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), which has been widely reported by the mass media recently, has actually existed in Indonesia for a long time and is not a deadly disease, but the public still needs to take preventive measures, such as adequate rest.

Budi said HMPV was an old virus that was discovered in 2001 and has been circulating around the world since then, and so far there have been no major events due to the HMPV.

In addition, Budi also dismissed reports about the increase in HMPV cases in China. Virus that spread in China, said Budi Gunadi, not HMPV, but H1N1 or ordinary influenza viruses. In prevalence, he said, in China, HMPV ranks third.

He also reminded that everyone can get the flu, but if the immune system is good, the virus can be handled by the body.

The Minister of Health mentioned a number of things that can be done to build an immune system, such as rest and adequate exercise, and rest if you cough and runny nose.

HMPV has an incubation period of three to six days and can cause symptoms such as runny nose, cough, fever, difficulty breathing, and other respiratory problems.

There is no specific treatment for HMPV infection; the treatment of the infection usually involves cure for symptoms.

Small children and adults aged 65 years and over are among those at the highest risk of developing HMPV into bronchitis or pneumonia.

HMPV can spread through secretions from coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, and touching objects containing the virus and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth,

Prevention measures include washing hands regularly and thoroughly with soap, especially after visiting public places and before eating, to reduce the risk of infection and transmission of the virus.