Greece Marks Its Initial Case of HMPV
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Athens, Jan 8 (NationPress) Greece has reported its inaugural case of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in a 71-year-old male patient, as stated by the national news agency AMNA on Wednesday.
The individual, suffering from pneumonia and pre-existing health issues, is currently receiving intensive care in Thessaloniki, a city located in the north of the country. The National Public Health Organisation has recommended that healthcare professionals adhere to Covid-19 protocols and enforce rigorous hygiene practices.
Gkikas Magiorkinis, an associate professor of epidemiology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, has sought to calm public fears, indicating that there is no cause for alarm as HMPV is a recognized virus that has been in circulation for many years and is not deemed highly hazardous, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
In a related announcement, on Tuesday, the Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin revealed that the nation has identified cases of the respiratory virus HMPV, while reassuring the populace that the condition is not perilous.
According to Sadikin, "Our report indicates that multiple children have been infected. We are vigilantly monitoring the situation. Nonetheless, this is not a novel disease; it has been present in Indonesia since 2001, and we have not recorded any severe repercussions from this virus," as stated in a written announcement on the ministry's official site.
He highlighted that the symptoms mirror those of a common flu, urging citizens to uphold a clean and healthy environment.
"Anyone can contract the flu if their immune system is compromised. However, our bodies can manage this virus. It is crucial to strengthen our immune systems by ensuring adequate rest and participating in regular physical activity," he emphasized.
Discovered in 2001, HMPV belongs to the Pneumoviridae family, which also includes Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). The increased utilization of molecular diagnostic testing has heightened the detection and awareness of HMPV as a significant contributor to upper and lower respiratory infections, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
HMPV can lead to respiratory illnesses in individuals across all age groups, particularly affecting young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems, as stated by the CDC.
According to surveillance data from the CDC's National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System, HMPV shows peak activity during late winter and spring in temperate zones.
Common symptoms associated with HMPV include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath, according to the CDC.
In contrast to Covid-19 and the flu, there are currently no vaccines or antiviral medications available for HMPV. Medical professionals focus on alleviating symptoms for severely affected patients.
