On January 7, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health provided updates regarding the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), which is currently causing outbreaks in China.
The department confirmed that HMPV is not a new virus and has been circulating in Ho Chi Minh City for some time.
According to the city’s infectious disease surveillance system, respiratory infection cases ranged from 16,000 to 18,000 per month during the first eight months of 2024, with a noted increase in the final three months of the year. While respiratory illnesses typically surge during colder weather, hospitals have not observed any unusual spikes in severe cases.
Research conducted under the PREPARE project, a collaboration between the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU), the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Khanh Hoa General Hospital, Nha Trang Pasteur Institute, and the National Center for Infectious Diseases of Singapore, found that common viruses and bacteria remain the primary causes of respiratory illnesses. Among 103 pneumonia patients hospitalized from July to December 2024 at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, HMPV accounted for 12.5% of pediatric cases, compared to rhinovirus (44.6%), respiratory syncytial virus (41.1%), and influenza A (25%).
Additionally, monitoring during a respiratory infection outbreak among children in late 2023 revealed HMPV in 15% of cases. The Department of Health reiterated that HMPV is not a new virus but one of several common agents causing respiratory infections, particularly in children.
In light of the outbreak in China, the Department of Health advises the public to remain vigilant. Surveillance has been intensified, with the City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) and relevant healthcare units closely monitoring global developments. Quarantine measures at airports and seaports are prepared to detect and prevent potential disease spread.
Domestically, Ho Chi Minh City’s health sector continues to monitor infection trends, hospitalizations for severe acute respiratory infections, respiratory pathogens, and clusters of cases in schools, factories, and communities to ensure timely interventions.
Discovered in 2001, HMPV is known to cause upper and lower respiratory tract infections, particularly in young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Transmission occurs through direct contact or contact with contaminated surfaces, with cases typically rising in winter and early spring.
Common symptoms include cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and fever, with severe cases potentially leading to pneumonia. Currently, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for HMPV.
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Source: Vietnam Insider