The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued advice on the rise of a ‘mystery’ virus which has reached the UK and which has reportedly ‘left hospitals in China overwhelmed’. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is now a global concern, and nations such as China, India, and Malaysia are all grappling with outbreaks. The latest figures released in the UK are showing a rise in infections.
Health chiefs are urging the public to steer clear of medical facilities if they show symptoms and to don masks when visiting wards. The NHS has been hit by a rise in respiratory infections such as RSV, Covid and Flu, and the WHO has said on the HMPV outbreak this month: “In many countries of the Northern Hemisphere, trends in acute respiratory infections increase at this time of year. These increases are typically caused by seasonal epidemics of respiratory pathogens such as seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other common respiratory viruses, including human metapneumovirus (hMPV), as well as mycoplasma pneumoniae.”
The WHO added: “Recently, there has been interest in hMPV cases in China including suggestions of hospitals being overwhelmed. hMPV is a common respiratory virus found to circulate in many countries in winter through to spring, although not all countries routinely test and publish data on trends in hMPV . While some cases can be hospitalized with bronchitis or pneumonia, most people infected with hMPV have mild upper respiratory symptoms similar to the common cold and recover after a few days.”
In the latest figures released by the UK Health Security Agency it found that human metapneumovirus (hMPV) positivity increased to 4.5%, with the highest positivity in those aged under 5 years at 10.0%.
Though distinct from Covid, HMPV’s spread has sparked anxiety over potential additional burdens on the NHS. Discovered first in the Netherlands in 2001, it’s part of the same viral family as RSV, known officially as respiratory syncytial virus.
Speaking to the Mirror last week, Dr Andrew Catchpole from health research organisation hVIVO said: “Whilst hMPV does mutate and change over time with new strains emerging, it is not a virus that we consider to have pandemic potential. This is because the changes in hMPV are gradual and based on previously circulating strains.”
Chart: HMPV cases in England
HMPV spreads through direct contact between people or when someone touches a contaminated surface. The virus leads to a mild upper respiratory tract infection for most people. It is usually almost indistinguishable from flu and symptoms for most people include a cough, a fever, and a blocked nose.
These symptoms usually develop over a couple of days and can last up to two weeks, including sneezing, congestion, sore throat, cough, and general malaise. The very young, including children under two, are most vulnerable to the virus. It also poses a greater risk to those with weakened immune systems, including the elderly and those with advanced cancer. Severe symptoms of HMPV can include inflammation in the lungs and pneumonia.
Dr Conall Watson, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “HMPV is a common respiratory infection in winter, and we typically see activity reaching a peak at this time of year. Infections are usually mild, causing symptoms of a common cold. Our surveillance systems in GP surgeries and hospitals indicate that levels are in line with what we would expect to see. Most people have had HMPV by the time they are five years old and catch it again throughout their lives.
“As with all respiratory viruses, you can help reduce infections being passed on through regular hand washing and catching coughs and sneezes in tissues and throwing them away. If you have symptoms such as a high temperature, cough and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable. There are many viruses in circulation at the moment, including flu – if you have symptoms of a respiratory illness and you need to go out, our advice continues to be that you should consider wearing a face mask.”