In recent weeks, news from China has brought the Covid-19 pandemic back to people’s minds around the world. But despite the superficial similarities, this situation is very different and much less worrisome.
The sight of thousands of patients flocking to hospitals in China, mostly children, infected with a flu-like respiratory infection caused by a virus, human metapneumovirus (hMPV), is indeed nightmarish. This virus has been known for several years, since 2001, causing seasonal outbreaks in the winter months with millions of cases in the western hemisphere along with other respiratory pathogens such as seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), mycoplasma and others.
hMPV is a common respiratory virus found circulating in many countries from winter to spring, it is so common that more than 90% of people are infected before the age of 5 years.
It usually causes a mild upper respiratory tract infection, transmitted through close contact with infected persons or through infected surfaces, causing symptoms such as cough, fever, nasal congestion or runny nose, wheezing, sore throat, shortness of breath, rash. However, severe cases can lead to lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia, bronchiolitis, asthma flare-ups, otitis media or worsen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially among infants, people over 65 years of age and immunocompromised people. These patients are at higher risk of serious complications and should seek immediate medical attention. In mild cases the disease lasts up to a week. Laboratory confirmation is made by taking a nasal or nasopharyngeal specimen and detecting the virus by molecular or other methods.
There is no specific antiviral treatment, but only symposomal, nor is there currently a vaccine. Efforts are being made to produce a vaccine that will protect against both hMPV and respiratory syncytial virus, (RSV). However , we should not be particularly concerned because this virus is a well-studied virus that has been around for decades and is not currently capable of causing a pandemic similar to that of Covid-19, nor any particular number of deaths.
Although the WHO has not expressed concern, considering the number of cases both in China and worldwide to be seasonally expected, it nevertheless recommends that people with mild symptoms stay at home to avoid spreading the virus to other people and to rest. People at high risk or with complicated or severe symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. However, each of us should consider wearing a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated areas and, when coughing or sneezing, cover our mouth and nose with a tissue or a bent elbow and be sure to observe good hand hygiene.
Nikolaos Malisiovas, Om. Professor
