Is this a sign of the next pandemic?

spreading rapidly in china Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) Has put the whole world in worry. Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is creating an atmosphere of fear in China. Due to this, crowd of patients is being seen outside the hospitals. The increasing cases of hMPV have raised questions globally: Could this virus take the form of a new pandemic like the coronavirus?

hMPV virus status in China

The situation is worsening in China due to hMPV virus.

• What is hMPV virus?
  Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a virus that cold like symptoms produces.
  • It mainly affects young children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems.
  • Symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and difficulty breathing.
• present situation:
  • A huge crowd of patients is being seen in hospitals in China.
  • According to social media reports, this virus is spreading rapidly in China.

Vigilance regarding hMPV in India

India has issued an alert in view of the cases of hMPV in China.

• Health Ministry’s position:
  • The government has said that it is monitoring the situation.
  • hMPV is considered a common virus that causes flu-like symptoms.
• Who bears the risk?
  • This virus mainly affects the elderly and small children.
  • However, if there is a rise in cases, the government is prepared to deal with the situation.

When does WHO declare a virus a pandemic?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has the authority to declare any virus or disease as an epidemic.

Criteria for declaring an epidemic:

1. Spread of the virus:
   • WHO looks at how many countries the virus has spread to.
2. Number of deaths and victims:
   • The situation is assessed based on the number of people affected and deaths.
3. Severity of impact:
   • It remains to be seen how severe the impact of the virus is and how many people it can affect.
4. Global Threat:
   • When the spread of a disease poses a major threat to humanity on a global scale, it is declared a pandemic.

• Epidemic declaration:
  • The final decision to declare an epidemic is taken by WHO only.
  • No country or other organization has the authority to take this decision.

Could hMPV become the next pandemic?

• Rapid spread in China:
  Reports of the rapid spread of the hMPV virus and the condition of hospitals indicate that this virus may be serious.
• Global vigilance:
  • hMPV has not been declared an epidemic at this time.
  • However, governments and health agencies are monitoring the situation.

Measures to prevent hMPV virus

1. Take care of cleanliness:
   • Wash hands regularly.
   • Wear a mask in crowded places.
2. Physical Distancing:
   • Maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.
3. Strengthen immunity:
   • Eat a balanced diet and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
4. Keep an eye on the symptoms:
   • In case of cough, fever, and difficulty in breathing, contact the doctor immediately.