The Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is real, and it has already started affecting people all across the globe. There is immense stress among people, fearing that it might turn into another pandemic like COVID-19.
While there is no definitive answer to this genuine issue, here’s what we know so far.
Before we begin—if you want to know what the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is, you can read our article here [insert link].
How Many Cases Of HMPV In India So Far?
India has detected around 7 cases of HMPV so far, primarily affecting children under the age of 5.
How Similar Is HMPV To COVID-19?
HMPV is known to cause flu-like symptoms, which are a lot similar to COVID-19.
However, unlike SARS-CoV-2, the virus which caused COVID-19, the Human Metapneumovirus is not new. It’s been around since 2001, first isolated in the Netherlands.
In fact, there is a high probability that almost everybody over the age of 5 has been infected by it at least once in their lifetime. Due to its high similarity with the common cold, we might not have even realized that we were infected by HMPV. So, we’re probably immune to it, or can fight it off much better than the way we did with the novel coronavirus.
Although HMPV spreads through droplet infection and close contact (just like COVID-19), its transmission rate is slow, making it less likely to cause fast and widespread outbreaks.
What Is The Government of India Saying?
The Health Ministry of India stated on the 6th of January 2025 that none of the cases in India have any travel history and that all the infected persons are recovering well. However, the Government of India has stepped up its vigil and even started creating isolation wards in case things start to spiral downwards.
What Is China Saying?
Chinese authorities have acknowledged that HMPV cases are increasing, but have emphasized that the virus is a known entity and is not a major concern.
What Is The World Health Organization (WHO) Saying?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an advisory similar to that released during COVID-19, alerting people to follow basic hygiene practices, wear a mask, and maintain social distance. However, based on their risk assessment, they have advised against any travel restrictions at this stage, which showcases that HMPV might not be as serious as it sounds.
Our Advice
We need to remember what had happened during COVID-19. Even though governments across the world had initially advised us to “not panic”, eventually the situation turned out to be graver than what we had anticipated at the start. We lost millions of innocent lives and we continue to mourn for them till this date.
Take precautions with utmost seriousness. If it’s just another simple curable virus, we can move on. But if it’s not, we need to stay alert. Because no matter how cliché this might sound—prevention is always better than cure.
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Stay safe!