The primary cause of this health crisis appears to be a resurgence of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV).

Although HMPV typically causes mild cold-like symptoms, recent weeks have seen a significant increase in hospitalisations, particularly among children.

While HMPV is not a new virus, it has gained attention due to the sheer number of cases overwhelming the healthcare system. The virus was first detected in 2001 in the Netherlands and initially transitioned from avian species to humans.

Dr. Ishwar Gilada, Secretary General of the Peoples Health Organisation of India, elaborated on the situation, explaining the virus’s impact on the respiratory system.

“This new virus is not a new virus. It’s the re-emergence of the OP virus. This virus was first detected in 2001 in the Netherlands and has transitioned from a zoo animal to a human being. Initially, it was an avian metapneumovirus, and now avian means birds. From there, it has become human, which means it would cause problems in the lungs, in the respiratory system. Number one, it is not a new infection but widespread in China and Malaysia,” Dr. Gilada stated.

The current outbreak comes five years after the world was first alerted to the emergence of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China, which later turned into a global pandemic with seven million deaths reported worldwide.

Gilada emphasised that the current outbreak is a result of the winter season in the northern hemisphere, contributing to the spread of multiple respiratory viruses, including HMPV, influenza, COVID-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

–SABC/ChannelAfrica–