The New Covid-Style Virus

By Tolani

A new case of a virus has been detected in China. The virus flu-like called human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China has raised fears of another Covid-style pandemic.

There were reports of overcrowded hospitals, overwhelmed intensive care units (ICUs), and new monitoring measures. Concerns were further raised when signs that the outbreak had spread began to appear. According to a report by the World Health Organization, this virus is said to be in COVID-19 style and has stirred fear in everyone.

More cases of this flu-like virus have been detected in India, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan. It has also begun reporting patients who have contracted the disease. 

It was also around January 2020 that an uncomfortable echo happened five years ago when there was a whisper of a killer virus outbreak in this same China. As pictures suddenly started emerging of overflowed hospitals and emergency pop-up medical facilities to cope with the sick and dying, it would still be a month the World will never forget as it got almost the whole world to go on lockdown. However, health experts say HMPV is not like COVID-19 and have pointed out that it has been around for many years. It was said to be first identified in the Netherlands in 2001, symptoms for most people include a cough, a fever, and a blocked nose.

The difference between these two viruses is not tiny even though both are dangerous. However, COVID-19 is more dangerous than HMPV. Both HMPV and COVID-19 viruses cause minor respiratory symptoms in most infected people but COVID-19 has a broader spectrum of symptoms involving multiple body systems and HMPV is less transmittable and has less severe symptoms as compared to COVID-19.

These are the precautions health officials advise to take to avoid catching HMPV and other respiratory illnesses.

Wearing a mask in crowded places

Avoiding crowds where possible if you are at higher risk of more severe illness

Washing your hands regularly

Disposing of tissues securely

People may also consider getting vaccinated against other respiratory conditions like the flu.

Like Covid, HMPV spreads through close contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces. The virus can be transmitted through the following;

Respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes

Direct contact, such as kissing, shaking hands, or caring for an ill person

Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes

HPMV is deadly and leads to severe complications in older people, children, and people with 

an underlying disease.