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Understanding HMPV - A Well-Known but Recently Spotlighted Virus

21-01-2025

05:15 AM

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1 min read
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Context

As anxieties about respiratory disease outbreaks like HMPV are understandable in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic, science-based communication and response become even more critical for all sections of society.

Introduction - HMPV in Context:

  • Discovery and prevalence:
    • Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), first detected in 2001, has been circulating in human populations for decades.
    • It is well-known to the medical community for its characteristics, prevention, and management.
  • Current situation in India: Recent media attention has brought HMPV into focus, though detected cases remain within expected seasonal ranges and do not pose a significant threat.

Transmission and Symptoms of HMPV:

  • Spread mechanism: HMPV spreads via droplets, infected surfaces, and physical contact such as handshakes.
  • Incubation and symptoms:
    • Symptoms appear within 3-6 days of infection and include nasal congestion, sneezing, cough, breathlessness, fever, sore throat.
    • Severe cases, though rare, may affect infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.

Prevention and Management of HMPV:

  • Precautionary measures: Key flu-season precautions:
    • Wearing masks.
    • Hand hygiene and avoiding face-touching.
    • Avoiding crowded areas, especially for vulnerable groups.
  • Treatment: Symptomatic management includes:
    • Hydration, rest, warm fluids, paracetamol for fever.
    • Monitoring for severe symptoms like difficulty breathing or incessant coughing in high-risk groups.

India’s Preparedness and Surveillance to Deal with HMPV:

  • Health infrastructure: The Indian healthcare system is equipped to manage HMPV using RT-PCR (Real-Time Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain) tests, though testing is generally unnecessary for mild cases.
  • Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) role: Surveillance reveals HMPV caused approximately 3% of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases this season.
  • Virus trends: Seasonal trends in virus circulation are monitored; there is no evidence of mutations in HMPV.

Key Comparisons - HMPV vs. SARS-CoV-2:

  • Differences:
    • HMPV, unlike the novel SARS-CoV-2 (first detected in 2019), is well-studied with decades of global exposure.
    • HMPV (Pneumoviridae family) and SARS-CoV-2 (Coronaviridae family) belong to two very different virus families with fundamentally different characteristics and epidemiology.
    • Unlike SARS-CoV-2, strong seasonality is seen for HMPV.
  • Severity: HMPV generally causes milder illness with minimal long-term effects, unlike SARS-CoV-2.

Lessons from the Pandemic:

  • Government action: Proactive surveillance by the Ministry of Health, ICMR, and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) builds confidence in handling outbreaks.
  • Preparedness goals:
    • Recommendations from NITI Aayog’s 2024 report stress pandemic readiness through investments in R&D for vaccines and strengthening emergency response mechanisms, which have been identified by the WHO.
    • This will help India to be fully prepared for future outbreaks, epidemics from known and emerging infections.
  • Environmental considerations: Air pollution exacerbates respiratory illnesses like ILI and SARI, highlighting the urgency for a national, multi-sectoral response.

Conclusion - Stay Alert, Not Alarmed:

  • HMPV cases in India are no cause for panic, given the virus’s well-understood nature and manageable impact.
  • Proactive communication, robust surveillance, and addressing environmental drivers like air pollution remain critical for public health.

Q) What is HMPV?

Ans) Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus of the family Pneumoviridae. It was isolated for the first time in 2001 in the Netherlands. It usually causes symptoms similar to a cold. 

Q) How is HMPV different from SARS-CoV-2?

Ans) HMPV, unlike the novel SARS-CoV-2 (first detected in 2019), is well-studied with decades of global exposure. HMPV generally causes milder illness with minimal long-term effects, unlike SARS-CoV-2.

Q) What are the similarities between HMPV and SARS-CoV-2?

Ans) Both HMPV and COVID-19 cause respiratory illnesses in people of all ages. Common symptoms include fever, cough, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath.

Q) What classifies as a pandemic?

Ans) A pandemic is defined as an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people

Q) What is a RT-PCR test?

Ans) A real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) test is a reliable and accurate test that detects the presence of certain infectious diseases, including COVID-19. 

Source: IE