MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) said there's no need to implement another lockdown or to be strict on border control amidst reports of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak in China.
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| Pedestrians in Manila wearing mask in 2022. Photo courtesy: Bloomberg / AFP |
“Hindi dini-deny ng bansang yun na mayroon silang pagtaas ng cases nila. Pero kapag kini-compare sa kanilang bilang noong 2023, mas mababa pa rin,” said DOH spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo.
In a press statement, DOH clarified on Wednesday, January 8 that HMPV is neither a "new disease" nor a "new virus."
"Ang HMPV ay hindi isang bagong sakit. Natuklasan ito noong 2001 ng mga Dutch na mananaliksik sa mga sample ng nasopharyngeal aspirate mula sa mga bata na may mga impeksyon sa paghinga na dulot ng hindi kilalang mga pathogen," the health agency said.
Citing report from the World Health Organization (WHO), DOH noted that this "upward trend" is expected during the winter season in China and other countries in the Northern Hemisphere.
The current HMPV situation in China is a new outbreak of a known and relatively well-understood virus that has likely circulated among humans for hundreds of years.
HMPV cases have reportedly surged among young people in northern parts of China in recent weeks.
Last year, the Philippines detected 284 cases of HMPV, Domingo said.
“Kilala natin si HMPV, hindi natin kailangan isara ang borders natin at hindi siya kumakalat kahit andito siya,” he said.
“Wala pong lockdown, tuloy po ang ating buhay. Tayo po ay mag-ingat po lamang at ito ay seasonal na mga trangkaso,” he added.
HMPV comes from the same viral family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which also causes short-term infections.
Unlike the coronavirus and influenza, HMPV also appears to be relatively stable. This means that mutations are less frequent, with reinfection occurring over time as immunity wanes.
HMPV causes infections in the upper and lower respiratory tract, with symptoms similar to those of RSV.
Symptoms can include cough, fever and congested nasal passages, which are often caused by other viruses.
"Karamihan sa mga taong nahawaan ng HMPV ay magkakaroon lamang ng banayad na mga sintomas, na kinabibilangan ng ubo, lagnat, pagkabara ng ilong, at halak," DOH said.
"Ang mga bihirang malubhang kaso ay maaaring magresulta sa brongkitis o pulmonya, lalo na sa mga sanggol, matatanda at mga indibidwal na immunocompromised," DOH added.
Like other respiratory illnesses, HMPV is contagious. Transmission occurs through exposure to airborne droplets expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes, as well as contact with contaminated surfaces, including by physical contact with hands or skin.
There is currently no treatment or vaccine for HMPV.
— The Summit Express
