Recent Update on the HMPV Virus: Why It's Not Dangerous but Staying Safe with Precautions Is Essential
The recent news & social media updates have got Australians worrying about the new virus outbreak. Read the blog to get the latest updates for the same.

Social media posts and articles on the internet have flooded people's minds with questions on the HMPV virus and its position in countries like China, Australia, the USA, etc. In response, countries like Indonesia have started keeping close eyes on people traveling to their country from China or Malaysia.
Well, many posts say a new virus alert, but experts claim the virus is not new for Australians, and thus there's no need to cause panic. Let's have a detailed look at the sudden outburst of the virus.
What is the HMPV Virus?
HMPV stands for human metapneumovirus and is considered similar to a regular flu. This is a respiratory virus and causes mild illness like a typical cold.
The virus has been around for 70 years but was only discovered in 2001. With low symptoms, the virus has been circulating in humans for the last 50 years. The virus is present in the affected person's mucus and saliva and can be spread via droplets. Common symptoms of the virus are fever, cough, cold, headache, and fatigue.
Should Australia be Worried?
Australia has witnessed rising testing rates for respiratory viruses due to better access to detection. According to the report of New South Wales Health, HMPV diagnoses have been declining from December to the start of January.
Australian Health Minister Mark Butler said it was not uncommon for there to be a surge in respiratory illnesses during the Chinese winter and "for that to impact their hospital systems". "It's a type of illness we're pretty familiar with [in Australia]," he said.
Infested people must get a good rest, take more fluids, and stay home to avoid spreading the virus to others. The virus is not similar to COVID-19 in any way and, thus, will not lead to a pandemic.
In contrast, HMPV has been circulating for decades, and people around the world already have little or low protection against it.
Precautions to Undertake
Here's a complete list of health guidelines that will help you to protect against this respiratory disease.
- Wearing a face mask is a great way to add an extra layer of protection, especially when you visit crowded places.
- Avoid sharing any cutlery like a spoon or plate or even sharing food with people who are sick. In case any family member is ill, make sure to rinse the same cutlery with soap to remove virus spreading.
- Make sure to wash your hands properly with soap and water before touching your nose or mouth or eating your food.
- If you're feeling under the weather, try to stay from home so as not to spread the infection to other people.
- Cover your nose and mouth well before sneezing, and make sure to dispose of the tissue responsibly.
- If possible, keep older people and children at home away from crowded places as they generally have weak immunity.
Although they have mild symptoms in young children, the elderly, and those who have low immunity, HMPV can lead to severe cases and can move to the lower respiratory tract and may lead to pneumonia.
Conclusion
Measures to prevent this respiratory disease are the same as the common cold and flu. All in all, HMPV is quite common in Australia and has been around for a very long time. People are pretty familiar with and immune to some extent to the disease and thus don't show any sign or need of panic, worry, or outbreak in the country.
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