Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) has been detected in several countries, including Japan, Malaysia, India and now Bangladesh.
Dr Ahmed Nawshar Alam, Head of the Virology Department at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), confirmed this on Sunday.
Public health experts emphasized that HMPV is not a new virus, it has existed for a long time.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus was first identified in the Netherlands in 2001.
Health experts explain that the virus spreads through direct contact between two or more people, and it can also be transmitted by touching infected surfaces.
The CDC mentions that HMPV is primarily spread through droplets from an infected person's sneeze or cough.
It can also spread through close contact such as handshakes.
Touching objects or surfaces contaminated with the virus, such as door handles, lift buttons, or teacups, can lead to transmission if one touches their eyes, nose, or mouth afterward.
Most infected individuals show symptoms like cold, cough and fever.
However, if the symptoms become severe, medical advice and hospitalization may be necessary.
Experts believe that HMPV can be prevented through similar measures to those taken against COVID-19, including: Wearing a mask when going outside, washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds frequently, avoiding touching the face with hands, maintaining safe distance from infected individuals and avoiding crowded places, covering sneezes and coughs with a tissue, discarding the tissue immediately, and washing hands afterward, if no tissue is available, sneezing into the elbow, consuming nutritious food to boost immunity, staying hydrated, and performing breathing exercises, seeking medical advice in case of cold, cough or fever symptoms.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has referred to HMPV as a "winter-related health issue," noting that the symptoms are similar to the flu and usually resolve on their own within 2-5 days.
According to a 2021 report by The Lancet Global Health, 1% of deaths from severe respiratory infections in children under five years old were attributed to HMPV.
Individuals with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, kidney complications, cancer, COPD, asthma, or pulmonary fibrosis may experience severe symptoms, and in some cases, the virus could be fatal.
Therefore, it's crucial not to ignore symptoms in such patients.
While vaccines were developed to combat COVID-19, no vaccine is yet available for HMPV.
Experts emphasize the importance of staying vigilant and following preventive measures.
