The spread of another virus like Corona in China, the response of the National Institute of Health has arrived

 People infected with this virus have complained of cold and corona-like symptoms; report

Saturday, January 4, 2025

Beijing/Islamabad (UrduPoint News Today/ Pakistan Point News - 04 January 2025) Five years after the outbreak of COVID-19 in China, a new virus called Human Metapanovirus (HMPV) is spreading rapidly. According to official Chinese media, the virus has so far been confirmed to have infected children aged 14 and under, but its exact severity is still unclear. It is currently one of the four major viral infections spreading in hospitals in China. People infected with the virus have complained of cold and COVID-19-like symptoms, and there has been an increase in respiratory diseases.

Human metapanovirus is a respiratory virus that mainly affects children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. People infected with this virus often have symptoms similar to the common cold or flu, such as fever, cough and nasal congestion. However, this virus can cause serious health risks. This virus is especially a cause of serious concern for young children.

Andrew Aston, a professor of virology at the University of Warwick in the UK, says that HMPV has been recognized as a significant problem for at-risk populations around the world since the beginning of the century. It is extremely important to investigate the possible increase in infections. HMPV belongs to the same family of viruses as respiratory syncytial virus, which is a seasonal virus that also causes colds and lung infections. There has been no significant change in this risk in the last 25 years. It has always been a matter of concern to see any changes in the incidence or pattern of infections.

In this regard, officials from the National Institute of Health of Pakistan say that test kits are available to diagnose the HMPV virus spreading in China. So far, no HMPV sample has come for testing. Border Health Services staff is sending samples of every sick and suspected person coming to Pakistan to federal and provincial laboratories. The National Institute of Health will discuss the issue of the Chinese epidemic in the NCOC.