China is currently experiencing a wave of serious respiratory illnesses caused by a virus that does not normally come with severe symptoms. Even so, according to the international press, hospitals are full of sick people and deaths are occurring in an ever-increasing number. Epidemiologist Mihai Negrea, a health expert, explained to “Adevărul” that the metapneumovirus (HMPV), because it is what we are talking about, is, in reality, nothing more than a common cold.
Hospitals in China are being overwhelmed by patients with respiratory diseases. Archive
“We are talking about a virus discovered in 2001 that does not make us seriously ill. But, obviously, on the background of a weakened immune system, the most severe complications can occur”, explains the specialist. However, dr. Negrea admits that the emergence of the virus in China was reported not only in the international press, but also in the groups of doctors and epidemiologists in Romania: “This virus is indeed being talked about, but only on an informative level. No one in the professional area is yet alerted, but of course if the discussion appears in the public area, automatically everyone starts studying the problem. However, there could be something there, if ira appears in our country, we should not be surprised. The medical world therefore begins to speak, to inform itself, to transmit information, data, studies, etc.”
Dr. Negrea believes that the information taken from the foreign press is a bit exaggerated: “In Europe, there are a lot of studies done on this virus. And indeed, there is a higher prevalence of this virus in the cold season. This, especially if children are tested. But these tests are rarely done, because who is tested for a cold common? Because that’s what the virus does: it makes us sick with a cold that we carry, most of the time, on our feet”.
As for Romania, it is very likely that the metapneumovirus also exists in our country and has already caused illnesses. But, officially, there are no known cases. Since it is a common cold, the patient may not have even given it importance: “Unless something special happens, no one is looking for this virus, because it is not a virus that causes problems. He travels all over the world, including Europe, the USA and Canada. In general, over time, in the USA, for example, more than 60% of patients who arrived at the hospital became ill because of this virus. So, we are talking about something very well known but, fortunately, without serious symptoms”.
The tests, continues the expert, are carried out at a time when many cases of illness appear in a relatively short period: “On the other hand, in this area of colds, we have around 20 viruses that no one is currently testing for. Only when they appear, and the number of patients increases. However, if the symptoms are not serious, no one is tested”.
How do we distinguish the metapneumovirus from the influenza virus
While the common flu comes with symptoms such as muscle aches, general malaise and high fever, the disease caused by the metapneumovirus is much milder, explains the specialist: “The patient has a low-grade fever, maybe 38 degrees Celsius, no muscle pain, but instead has a runny nose and, most importantly, a cough. It is a dry cough in the head of the chest, strong, annoying and persistent even two or three weeks after healing. This would be the symptom that may indicate that you have been infected with the virus. If you are tested against influenza and COVID and the results are negative, you have most likely contacted the Human Metapneumovirus”.
Untreated, this disease can come with complications, especially among young children, chronically ill people or those who have a very low immune system. “Those who have pre-existing respiratory diseases, asthma, bronchitis, smokers, cancer patients, immunosuppressed people can develop more serious forms. But in these people, any virus gets complicated and can trigger bacterial pneumonia or other conditions”, added dr. Black. The disease lasts between 12-13 days, and then it is cured thanks to the immune system fighting the virus.
Epidemiologist: “Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus should be more feared”
The specialist stated that, at the moment, the respiratory syncytial virus is circulating in Europe and it should really make us think. And the flu. “Respiratory syncytial virus is now the focus of European health experts. This is something we should be wary of, especially since it has ten times the incidence of HMPV. And the flu should worry us because we are going to face an epidemic”. According to the specialist, we will soon have 20,000 cases of flu a week. “In the last week of December there were over 4,000. This week we could reach 6,000, then 9,000, then somewhere around 12,000 cases. The number of tests will also increase automatically. The epidemic could be triggered in late January, early February. Then there could still be a wave in April, but it depends a lot on the temperature outside. If this winter we have a frost of minus 10-15 degrees, the cases will decrease. But we won’t have a chance because we don’t have the winters of old“, the epidemiologist points out.
How can we prevent metapneumovirus?
Since it is a virus that causes colds, the prevention rules are the classic ones, which everyone knows and which are followed in the case of all viruses: “The metapneumovirus is transmitted through coughing and sneezing, through the droplets of saliva that we eliminate. That’s why those who don’t want to get sick should wear a protective mask. People who are already sick should avoid contact with healthy people, they should cough into a handkerchief or sleeve,” warns the doctor. “In general, putting your hand over your mouth when you cough is a big mistake. The virus on the palm is transmitted to the objects with which you later come into contact and which are then touched by other people”.
Another preventive measure is maintaining personal hygiene, washing hands with soap and water and ventilating rooms: “Especially if several people have gathered in that room. Venting for five minutes several times a day works wonders.”
How we treat our cold
The cold may not be cured, but the symptoms can be kept under control, explains the doctor. It recommends symptomatic treatment including paracetamol, ibuprofen and cough syrups: “Antitussives, whether herbal or medicinal, will help you get over a cough more easily, especially if it’s an aggressive and long-lasting one.”
Obviously, if the fever persists for several days, if it’s getting higher and higher, if you can’t breathe, you feel like you’re running out of air, you have to go to the doctor. “In general, viral diseases create a favorable environment for multiplication bacteria. Once our immunity goes down, the body fighting the viral disease, the bacteria take advantage and multiply. And you can turn a common cold into bacterial pneumonia, which is already very serious”warns the epidemiologist.
China, says doctor Mihai Negrea, is also facing what we call Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS during this period. “They generally have an increase in respiratory infections, but they are not necessarily caused by metapneumovirus. They have not yet defined the causes. But this also happens with us, because we are in the middle of the cold season”, the specialist also pointed out
