Beijing: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic five years ago, China is facing a new health crisis due to rapid spread of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) throughout the country. Hospitals have been reported to be in a state of chaos, crowded with patients while crematoriums are said to be filled to their capacity, which has led to the fear of a possible rise in this outbreak severity.
The HMPV outbreak has been compared to COVID-19, as they both demonstrate similar symptoms and transmission routes. However, although the situation has been monitored closely by the health officials, no emergency state has been officially declared from the Chinese health authorities or the World Health Organization (WHO).
The social media has been filled with clips and photos of full hospitals, users cocaine multivirus spirits–such as Influenza A, HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and COVID-19–are circulating at the same time. One user even went so far as to say that the situation has resulted in a health emergency in China, though these claims are still not verified.
According to reports of Reuters, the China’s disease control authority has been on top of the situation and is conducting a investigation. The symptoms encountered at the very beginning were like those of pneumonia; however, officials have promised the public that the epidemic will not reach the heights it did during the COVID-19 pandemic.
State media channels like CCTV have downplayed the issue by saying there is no reason to be alarmed. They have identified the rise in the number of infections reported from December 16-22, which they attributed to the typical winter respiratory illnesses that frequently cause concern among the citizens.
The National Disease Control and Prevention Administration has put in place the protocol for laboratory reporting as part of a larger effort to stem the tide of the increasingly common HMPV infection. Medical professionals express their worry about random antiviral drug use for HMPV that is not supported by any vaccine right now.
In the midst of the health obstacles, China also aims to set up these procedures, which include handling respiratory diseases and ensuring the public’s safety. The issue is dynamic with the health officials remaining vigorous and focused on the containment of HMPV spread and other respiratory sicknesses during the winter quarantine and beyond.
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