EBN- Five years after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, recent reports have revealed an increase in the number of people infected with the HMPV virus in China , amid growing fears of a new pandemic.
According to reports, an upward trend in human respiratory virus cases has been observed in the northern provinces of China, especially among children under the age of 14.
This increase is reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic , and raises many questions about the similarities and differences between HMPV and COVID-19, particularly in terms of the nature of symptoms, the severity of infection, and the speed of spread.
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was first identified in 2001. This virus belongs to the pneumovirus family and is closely related to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
HMPV is a virus that affects the upper respiratory tract, and its symptoms appear mild in most cases, such as cough, runny nose, and sore throat.
However, HMPV can cause serious complications in high-risk groups, such as young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. These complications include pneumonia, bronchitis, and worsening of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Are there any differences between HMPV and Corona in terms of symptoms?
There are no clear differences between the symptoms of HMPV and Covid-19, as both cause similar symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, wheezing, and shortness of breath, according to the Economictimes website.
Just like the coronavirus, symptoms of HMPV vary depending on a person’s age, general health, and immune response. Health experts recommend taking precautions to reduce the risk of infection, such as wearing masks in crowded places and avoiding close contact with infected people.
Deccanherald explained that mild symptoms of HMPV include runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever, which are very similar to the symptoms of the common cold. Moderate symptoms may appear in the form of headache and persistent fever, which requires close monitoring of the health condition.
In severe cases, especially in high-risk groups such as infants, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases, the virus can lead to serious complications such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis, or pneumonia.
In addition, some cases may develop into severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) requiring hospitalization, making severe symptoms a major concern for at-risk groups.
Is HMPV as dangerous as coronavirus?
In a situation somewhat reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic, China is currently experiencing a significant increase in cases of human metastasis virus (HMPV). This increase in cases has raised concerns that the virus could spread rapidly to other regions. However, despite the concerns, China has not yet officially declared HMPV a global pandemic as COVID-19 has.
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, experts pointed out that the HMPV virus is not similar to the Covid-19 virus. The HMPV virus has been around for several decades, which means that there is a level of immunity in the population around the world due to previous infections.
In contrast, Covid-19 was a completely new disease that had not previously infected humans, which contributed to its widespread spread and transformation into a global pandemic.
