By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has urged people not to panic following reports of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in China.
The virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets, much like RSV and influenza. HMPV is mostly associated with mild upper respiratory tract symptoms such as cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, and possibly a fever.
NICD said there is nothing peculiar about the outbreak in China.
It said HMPV was detected all year round in South Africa as one of the regular seasonal respiratory viruses.
“As with most respiratory viral illnesses, there is no specific treatment for HMPV. Treatment of mild illness would include symptomatic relief (rest, medicines for pain and fever).
“People should also remain at home while ill to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses (the same advice is given for influenza).”
It said should symptoms not resolve within three to five days or become severe (difficulty breathing, fever not settling), people should seek care at a clinic or general practitioner.
People who are at risk of the virus are infants under six months (specifically those who are born prematurely), older people, people with comorbidities such as chronic lung and heart disease, those with conditions that affect the immune system (such as HIV) and people with diabetes. They are at increased risk of developing severe illness.
The NICD said there was also a combination vaccine (for HMPV and RSV) in development.
“These will likely be available in the next few years. In case of an outbreak, the NICD has robust surveillance systems across South Africa which will be able to detect an increase in respiratory pathogen circulation, and our laboratory has the capability to test for HMPV and other respiratory viruses.”
China is South Africa’s leading trade partner and a key political ally, with extensive movement of goods and people between people of the two countries.