Basic hygiene and preventive measures remain key to reducing spread of the HMPV virus. (source: Fotolia)
Recently, media reports have spread news of the HMPV virus emerging in Hungary. It is currently spreading in northern China, and other countries like the United States and the UK – and has also been reported in Slovakia, reports the Denník N daily.
Social media posts have shown crowded waiting rooms at medical clinics in China, full of people wearing masks. Five years after the Covid-19 pandemic, this has raised concerns, but public health authorities in Slovakia and scientists are reassuring the public.
The HMPV virus is not new and has been circulating in the population for decades. First identified in the Netherlands in 2001, it has been present worldwide ever since. An increase in cases is typical during the winter months. Like many respiratory infections, HMPV is most active in late winter and early spring. Experts suggest this may be because viruses survive better in the cold and spread more easily when people gather indoors.
What type of virus is it, and should the public be concerned?
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) causes infections of both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Public health expert Tatiana Červeňová explains that the virus spreads through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. “It can also spread from surfaces and objects that carry the virus,” she adds.
Virologist Boris Klempa from the Slovak Academy of Sciences stated that HMPV is a classic seasonal virus causing respiratory illnesses, circulating in the population globally for hundreds of years. “It’s not surprising, and this virus is not spreading from China – it's present worldwide,” he said. Moreover, Klempa was surprised that the virus has drawn a lot of media attention. He also stressed that there's a high chance most Slovaks already have immunity to HMPV.
The Sme daily spoke with Boris Klempa about the HMPV virus, and the virologist rejected speculation about the risk of potential mutations. "Even though new variants or genotypes may emerge, they don't significantly change the virus’s characteristics," he explained.
While HMPV is not new, no vaccine is currently available. Klempa, in the interview, highlighted that vaccines are still in clinical trials. The usual preventative measures for respiratory illnesses apply: avoiding crowded indoor spaces, maintaining hygiene, and wearing masks. As for flu vaccines, they offer no protection against HMPV.
Klempa assured the public that concern is unnecessary; Czech and Slovak health authorities are reiterating that while cases are rising, the virus's nature and impact are familiar and manageable.
Forewarned is forearmed
Symptoms of HMPV are typical of other respiratory infections, including cold-like symptoms, a sore throat, cough, runny nose, and fever. Severe cases are generally seen in children under five, individuals over 65, and those with weakened immune systems or chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Severe complications like pneumonia can occur, though Klempa drew a parallel to the flu, which also causes significant mortality in those aged 65 and over.
To protect yourself from HMPV infection, follow the same precautions as for other airborne viruses: wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, and stay away from individuals who are sick.
It is also recommended to follow so-called respiratory etiquette, meaning cough and sneeze into a disposable tissue, or, if one is not available, into the bend of your elbow. Just like during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is also advisable to avoid crowded spaces, ventilate indoor spaces thoroughly, and disinfect surfaces when dealing with respiratory illnesses.
