Human Metapneumovirus Infection

So, what kind of virus is human metapneumovirus? How is it transmitted? Do we need to worry about it becoming prevalent in China? How can we take daily precautions?

Human metapneumovirus HMPV virus belongs to the Pneumoviridae family, Metapneumovirus genus, and is an enveloped single-stranded negative-sense RNA virus. In 2001, Dutch scholars first detected it from nasopharyngeal aspirates of children with respiratory infections caused by unknown pathogens. Serological studies have shown that it has existed for at least 60 years and is distributed all over the world. It is one of the common respiratory pathogens.

Human Metapneumovirus: A Rising Global Concern as It Spreads from China to India

The whole world was recovering from the corona pandemic, meanwhile, due to Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, conditions like the peak of Covid-19 started developing again . The news of increasing crowds in hospitals and crematoriums and the videos going viral on social media have given sleepless nights to the world. Although Human Metapneumovirus is not a new virus, however, as its nature and infectiousness is being seen, many reports have even started saying that if the infection is not controlled, it can cause another global pandemic in five years. Within 20-25 days, HMPV has given sleepless nights to health agencies around the world, including China.

This dangerous virus spreading in China has now reached India as well. Till Monday (6 January), three children have been found infected in the country. The Union Health Ministry said that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has found HMPV infection in two children in Karnataka. A three-month-old girl and an eight-month-old boy have been found infected. Apart from this, a two-month-old girl has also been found infected in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Human Metapneumovirus HMPV symptoms

• Cough.
• Fever.
• Runny or stuffy nose.
• Sore throat.
• Wheezing.
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Rash.

Human metapneumovirus can cause upper and lower respiratory tract illness in people of all ages, especially young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

Common human metapneumovirus symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath. The clinical presentation of this viral infection can progress to bronchitis or pneumonia and is similar to other viruses that cause upper and lower respiratory tract infections. The incubation period for human metapneumovirus is 3 to 6 days, and the median duration of illness may vary depending on severity but is similar to other respiratory infections caused by viruses.

According to CDC monitoring data, human metapneumovirus is most active in late winter and spring in temperate regions. In the United States, human metapneumovirus transmission generally begins in late fall and continues until late spring. During the peak respiratory disease season, human metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza can spread simultaneously.

Human Metapneumovirus Treatment

There is currently no vaccine to prevent human metapneumovirus treatment. Members of the public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene to reduce the chance of infection:

1. Maintain good personal hygiene

• It is recommended to wear a mask in the following situations:
  • Anyone with fever or respiratory infection symptoms;
  • Anyone visiting or working in high-risk settings such as residential care homes for the elderly/ residents for persons with disabilities, clinical areas of medical facilities; and
  • High-risk people (such as people with existing health problems or low immunity) go to crowded places such as taking public transportation.
  • When the activity level of respiratory viruses is expected to increase, high-risk individuals should wear surgical masks when visiting public places, and members of the public should also wear surgical masks when taking public transport or staying in crowded places.

• It is important to wear a mask correctly, including maintaining hand hygiene before putting it on and after taking it off. For details on the correct wearing of masks .
• Keep your hands clean frequently, especially before touching your mouth, nose or eyes; before eating; after using the toilet; after touching public facilities such as handrails or doorknobs; or when your hands are contaminated with respiratory secretions, such as after coughing or sneezing.
• When washing hands, you should clean your hands with soap and water, rub your hands for at least 20 seconds, rinse them with water and dry them with paper towels or a hand dryer. If there are no hand-washing facilities, or if your hands are not obviously dirty, using 70 to 80% alcohol-based hand rub to clean your hands is also an effective method.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, dispose of used tissues in a covered bin, and wash your hands thoroughly.
• When symptoms of respiratory infection occur, you should wear a surgical mask, avoid going to work or school, avoid going to crowded places, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.
• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, get enough rest, do not smoke and avoid drinking alcohol to build good body resistance.
• Patients should avoid contact with children, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems.

2. Maintain good environmental hygiene

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as furniture, toys and shared items frequently. Use 1:99 diluted household bleach ( 10 ml of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite household bleach mixed with 990 ml of water) for disinfection, wait for 15 to 30 minutes, rinse with water and wipe dry. Metal surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected with 70% alcohol.
• Use absorbent disposable wipes to clean visible dirt, such as respiratory secretions, and then use 1:49 diluted household bleach ( 10 ml of household bleach containing 5.25% sodium hypochlorite mixed in 490 ml of water) to disinfect contaminated and nearby areas, wait for 15 to 30 minutes, rinse with water and wipe dry. Metal surfaces can be cleaned and disinfected with 70% alcohol.
• Maintain indoor air circulation. Avoid going to public places that are crowded or have poor ventilation; high-risk individuals may consider wearing surgical masks when staying in these places.
• Eating utensils should be cleaned and disinfected after use to reduce the chance of spreading diseases.