“NO NEED TO PANIC,” SAYS DOCTOR AS HMPV SPARKS GLOBAL CONCERN

Thu 09 January 2025:

South Africa – Reports of a human metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak in China have sparked global concern. Still, experts are urging people not to panic. Dr E.V. Rapiti, a family physician, reassured the public that there is no need for alarm.

He emphasized that while the virus can lead to complications and illnesses in vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, or those with weakened immune systems, people must not be afraid because there are effective treatments available.

“I don’t think we should worry, and if anything, if this virus were so pathogenic, so dangerous, in terms of the way it was spreading, it wouldn’t have been restricted to China. It would have gone like the Delta throughout the world.”

“So I think what we see in the media seems very fixed. It seems to be planned. It seems to be a creation. I don’t want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I’m a logical thinker.”

HMPV is a respiratory virus spread through droplets when someone coughs or sneezes. Its symptoms are similar to the flu—fever, coughing, and fatigue—and can occasionally lead to pneumonia, especially in the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.

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While Chinese authorities have referred to it as an “unknown pneumonia,” Dr Rapiti explained that the virus behaves much like other respiratory illnesses we’ve seen before, such as influenza and COVID-19. He dismissed alarming reports as exaggerated, urging a calm and measured response.

Dr Rapiti also noted that HMPV is likely seasonal, with cases typically appearing during colder months, much like other respiratory infections, making the risk of widespread outbreaks in warmer climates less concerning.

“Do not be afraid. This, to me, sounds like an ordinary flu. It only affects you during the winter and autumn months … Regarding the virus affecting children and the elderly, of course, it would affect children. Still, it doesn’t mean children are going to die. In my experience, children did not die from this disease.”

“Children have good immune responses, and we must guard that. It’s good when they get infected with a virus that causes mild symptoms because they develop natural, good, lasting lifelong immunity. As for older people, what do you expect? Their immunity is low, and they have chronic illnesses, so they are more likely to be affected and fall ill. However, that doesn’t mean older adults must be afraid. There is treatment available.”

Rather than resorting to extreme measures like masking or lockdowns, Dr. Rapiti suggested focusing on essential prevention. Regular handwashing and good respiratory hygiene remain crucial.

Simple remedies, such as gargling with salt water and rinsing the nasal passages with saline, can help reduce the virus’s presence in the upper respiratory tract. Supplements like zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin D can also boost immunity.

written by Thaabit Kamaar

This article originally published in Salaamedia click here