In its statement, based on data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) noted that there has been a sharp increase in viral respiratory infections, including HMPV, in China since December 2024. . In the statement, it was reported that cases caused by respiratory viruses, especially influenza, have increased within the European Union and the European Economic Area, but this increase is not unusual or unexpected for this period of the year.
World Health Organization (WHO) Spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris emphasized that HMPV increased in the winter months in China, as expected, and said, “By far the most common infection in the country is influenza, and this rate is increasing.”
Stating that HMPV was first identified in 2001, Harris said that this virus is common in winter and spring and usually shows symptoms similar to a cold.
Stating that HMPV can cause more serious diseases in people with weak immune systems, newborns and the elderly, but the mortality rate is very low, Harris recommended wearing a mask, ventilating closed areas and washing hands as a precaution.
(DHA)