• Airport surveillance active
• Local influenza samples under testing
• No local cases reported yet
• Public advised to follow health guidelines

Half a decade after the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology Unit is intensifying surveillance at airports as concerns grow over the spread of a virus in China, speculated to be a new variant of human metapneumovirus (HMPV).

Epidemiology Unit Consultant Epidemiologist Dr. P.C.S. Perera confirmed that the ministry’s Quarantine Unit was actively monitoring airports and conducting tests on collected influenza samples. 

“We are currently testing for the metapneumovirus,” he stated, adding that the Medical Research Institute (MRI) was equipped to handle such diagnostics.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Dr. Perera reassured the public that HMPV was not a severe disease, typically presenting with influenza-like symptoms such as a cough, fever, sore throat, and nasal congestion. 

“This is not a new virus. While we remain vigilant, there is no high risk of a pandemic situation at the moment,” he emphasised.

Foreign media and social media platforms have painted a grimmer picture, reporting overwhelmed hospitals and crematories in China. Videos circulating online highlight crowded medical facilities, with the surge being attributed to influenza A, HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Covid-19 cases.

Dr. Perera reiterated that no official reports of HMPV-related deaths or severe cases had emerged locally. 

“Most of the available information is based on news articles,” he noted, assuring that the ministry remained on alert while continuing its monitoring and testing efforts.

The public is encouraged to follow basic health guidelines to minimise the risk of infection and seek medical attention if symptoms escalate.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes HMPV symptoms as ranging from mild – such as a runny nose and cough – to severe cases involving wheezing, shortness of breath, bronchitis, pneumonia, or asthma exacerbations. 

The virus has an estimated incubation period of 3-6 days, with an illness duration similar to other respiratory infections.

While there is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for HMPV, the CDC advises preventive measures such as adhering to hygiene protocols and following the ‘2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings’.