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| Doctors have advised to follow hygiene rules like those for COVID-19 to prevent HMPV | Photo: Reuters |
Many experts fear that a new epidemic like COVID-19 may emerge in 2025. However, it is not possible to give a clear message right now about which disease will become a pandemic. However, the outbreak of HMPV is worrying them.
"There is a risk of another pandemic," said Michael Head, a senior researcher at the University of Southampton in the UK. "However, it is still not certain which disease will become a pandemic, so the pandemic has been named Disease X."
About 11 diseases such as measles, cholera, bird flu, and scabies have been put on the list of potential pandemics. In the meantime, the recent outbreak of HMPV has raised concerns among doctors and public health experts.
Several videos posted on Chinese social media show that the HMPV outbreak has created a similar situation to the one that caused hospitals to be overcrowded during the COVID-19 pandemic. The same situation is being seen in Japan. According to the country's media, the country has recorded more than 700,000 cold-related infections this season.
Michael Head said, "The main feature of the next pandemic will be extreme transmissibility. Human mortality will reach its peak."
China's current situation
Despite the increasing number of HMVP cases in China, neither the World Health Organization nor the Chinese government has issued any warning. Several media outlets have claimed that the country could declare a state of emergency at any time due to the way the virus is spreading.
Children and the elderly are most at risk in the country. Those with pre-existing respiratory conditions are particularly vulnerable to the new virus.
Although it may start with common cold-like symptoms such as fever, stuffy nose, cough, or shortness of breath, the virus can later lead to hospitalization. Sometimes, the severity of the infection can lead to complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, or ear infections.
USA on alert
The country is already on alert to prevent the HMPV virus from spreading to the USA like COVID-19 from China. Director General of the Indian Health Department Dr. Rachel Levine said that there is no way to take any respiratory problem lightly from now on. If such complications arise, one should immediately seek medical advice.
Levine said, "There is nothing to fear for now. Initially, it seems to be a common flu. So far, we have not received any alarming message, but hospitals and doctors have been instructed to handle any situation."
Prevention and Remedy
Although the presence of the HMPV virus was first reported nearly two decades ago, no vaccine has been discovered yet. Doctors say that the same precautions taken to combat COVID-19 can be used to prevent this virus.
Doctors have advised staying safe from HMPV by washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, avoiding touching your nose and mouth with unclean hands and maintaining a safe distance from infected people.