The Ministry of Health reported that it is “closely” monitoring the outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) recorded over the past few weeks in China. According to the ministry, the virus is responsible for a series of respiratory infections identified in the country, especially among children.
“To date, there is no international alert issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), but Brazilian epidemiological surveillance is in constant communication with health authorities from the WHO and several countries, including China, to monitor the situation and exchange relevant information. .”
According to the ministry, the latest surveillance updates from China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that the magnitude and intensity of respiratory infections recorded over the past few weeks were lower than those recorded in the same period. of the previous year.
“However, an increase in acute respiratory infections including seasonal influenza, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), rhinovirus infection, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and others has been observed, particularly in northern Chinese provinces.”
“Although the risk of a pandemic is considered low by experts, the Ministry of Health emphasizes that it is essential to reinforce measures to prevent and control respiratory infections”, added the note.
The ministry once again encouraged vaccination as a preventive measure for respiratory infections, including Covid-19 and flu or influenza – especially among groups considered priority, such as the elderly, pregnant women, children and people with comorbidities.
According to the ministry, vaccines against Covid-19 and influenza continue to be effective against severe forms of both diseases, reducing the number of hospitalizations and deaths caused by the variants in circulation.
The note also encourages the use of face masks by people with flu and cold symptoms, as the strategy helps to reduce the transmission of all respiratory viruses, including metapneumovirus.
Understand
HMPV is a respiratory virus that causes infections in the upper and lower respiratory tract. In Brazil, it was first identified in 2004. Since then, it has been monitored as part of the ministry’s epidemiological surveillance activities, which include collecting and analyzing data on respiratory diseases.
“It is a virus known throughout the world and common in cases of flu syndrome (mild cases), and may eventually evolve into cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome that require hospitalization,” highlighted the ministry.
HMPV surveillance is carried out through the Epidemiological Surveillance Information System (Sivep), with the identification of cases through hospital epidemiology centers in health services, which monitor the circulation of various respiratory pathogens in the country.
