China's Pediatric HMPV Cases Surge, Hospitals Overwhelmed

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China is seeing more cases of a respiratory illness called Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), which is mainly affecting children.

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HMPV is from the same virus family as RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and can cause cold-like symptoms, which sometimes can become serious

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A virus expert from University of Warwick, Andrew Easton, states that HMPV is a serious concern especially for very young infants in the first year of life.

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One can catch HMPV when someone with the virus coughs or sneezes nearby or by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching their face.

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Common signs of HMPV include coughing, fever, stuffy nose, and trouble breathing, which usually present themselves as mild symptoms.

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Mao Ning, representing the Chinese government, says that respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season as diseases appear to be less severe and spread on a smaller scale compared with the previous year.

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Indian health expert Dr. Atul Goel says there's no need to panic. "This virus is like other breathing viruses that cause common colds," he explains. He adds that India hasn't seen more cases than usual in 2024.

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Common precautionary methods include washing hands well with soap and water for 20 seconds, not touching your face with unwashed hands, staying away from infected people, etc.

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