- An NIH official advised the public to remain calm.
- Increased vigilance, preparedness is essential.
- People should pay attention to precautionary measures.
ISLAMABAD: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which has gained international attention due to a recent outbreak in China, has been circulating in Pakistan for at least two decades, federal health officials said on Saturday.
First detected in Pakistan in 2001, HMPV has caused several outbreaks over the years, mainly affecting children, he claimed.
“Human metapneumovirus was first identified in Pakistan in 2001, and outbreaks have been reported since then,” said an official at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Islamabad. The News.
“In 2015, a study conducted at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) found 21 cases of HMPV in children who were hospitalized with acute respiratory tract infections.”
There is no need to be alarmed by China’s reports.
Urging the public to remain calm amid reports of an outbreak of HMPV in China, NIH officials emphasized that Pakistan is currently witnessing outbreaks of seasonal influenza, including influenza A and B.
“People should pay attention to preventive measures such as regular hand washing and proper cough etiquette to avoid viral diseases,” the NIH official advised.
The official also revealed that the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) will discuss the situation in a meeting on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Border Health Services (BHS) is on high alert at all points of entry into the country to monitor possible cases.
Exploration and production in Pakistan
“As the virus is already present in our environment, we have the kits and expertise to detect all HMPV genotypes,” the NIH official said, adding that no samples have yet been received from health facilities. have not been
Commenting on the outbreak in China, the NIH expert explained that children born during a strict COVID-19 lockdown may not have been exposed to common pathogens, making them more susceptible to severe illness when exposed to the new virus. become victims of
The study highlights HMPV in Islamabad.
A 2015 study in PIMs, Islamabad investigated the prevalence, genetic diversity and seasonality of HMPV in children under five years of age with severe acute respiratory infection (SRI).
Of 127 throat swabs analyzed, 16.5% tested positive for HMPV. Genotype B2 was the most common strain, followed by A2b, A2a, and B1.
“HMPV cases occur during the winter months, particularly in November and December, with symptoms such as cough, wheezing, fever, and difficulty breathing,” the study noted. Severe cases show pulmonary infiltrates, requiring hospitalization.
The study highlighted the genetic similarities between Pakistani HMPV strains and those found in India, China and Singapore.
Experts stressed the need for extensive surveillance and multi-year studies to better understand the seasonal and clinical impact of the virus.
Seasonal influenza remains a major concern.
According to the NIH, Pakistan is currently dealing with an increase in seasonal influenza cases.
Both influenza A and B are spreading across the country, causing flu-like symptoms that can lead to severe illness in children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
NIH urges the public to take precautions and seek timely medical attention to effectively manage symptoms.
Implications and recommendations
Health experts called for a robust surveillance system to monitor HMPV and other respiratory viruses. “Pakistan has the capacity to detect and manage HMPV cases, but increased vigilance and preparedness are critical,” the NIH official concluded.