No cause for panic over HMPV, experts urge precaution

After China, the virus has been detected in India’s Karnataka state

The Human Metapneumovirus, or HMPV, first detected in northern China earlier this winter, has been reported in India's Karnataka state.

Experts assure the public that the virus, which shows symptoms similar to influenza, is not fatal in most cases.

Health professionals urged the public not to panic over the respiratory illness.

They recommend adhering to health guidelines to stay protected.

The virus typically causes mild symptoms such as a cold or a runny nose, but it can lead to more serious complications like pneumonia in vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly.

After the virus's detection in China, the country issued warnings, especially as the virus has been found to primarily affect children.

When asked about Bangladesh’s risk of HMPV transmission, Tahmina Shirin, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, or IEDCR, declined to comment, citing her engagement in an urgent meeting outside Dhaka.

However, public health expert and IEDCR Advisor Mushtuq Husain told bdnews24.com that the virus has been present in Bangladesh before and still exists, so there is no need for alarm.

He said, "The symptoms of this virus are similar to influenza. This disease was in Bangladesh and is present in all countries worldwide; it is not new.

“We should be cautious, but there is no need to panic.

“Many patients are arriving at the emergency departments of Chinese hospitals, which is why they have declared a state of emergency. This is their country's protocol."

Dr Mushtuq added that while HMPV is not fatal, people with pre-existing conditions might face serious risks.

“Any illness can become life-threatening for those with comorbidities.

“Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, just as they are with influenza.”

To reduce the risk of infection, he recommended handwashing, wearing masks, avoiding contact with symptomatic individuals, and consulting a doctor in case of severe illness.

Mushtuq, former chief scientific officer of the IEDCR, said: "One thing the health department can do is include HMPV in the influenza surveillance system.”

“By bringing it under surveillance, the virus's genome can be sequenced, which will help determine if the virus is changing or becoming more severe," he concluded.