China records outbreak of metapneumovirus-related diseases: hospitals are overcrowded with children
Kyiv • UNN
China has recorded a significant outbreak of metapneumovirus, which causes symptoms similar to influenza and COVID-19. The virus mainly affects children under 14, causing a high rate of hospitalizations.
Symptoms resemble influenza, RSV and Covid: fever, headache, runny nose and cough. There has been a significant increase in the number of cases.
Transmits to UNN with reference to EFE and FAZ.
Details
Some regions of China are experiencing high rates of hospitalization due to infection caused by human metapneumovirus. Symptoms resemble influenza, RSV, and Covid. It is noted that the virus mainly affects children under the age of 14 and coincides with winter, when respiratory infections tend to increase.
Videos were published showing hospitals filled with masked patients and parents carrying children in long lines.
HelpHelp
The virus was first isolated and genetically analyzed by scientists in Rotterdam in 2001. The scientists, led by Bernadette G. van Hoogen, analyzed nasal swabs from young, very sick children for previously unknown pathogens, as no known viruses could be detected in them.
In 28 of these patients, scientists found unknown pneumoviruses that are closely related to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
They published their findings in the well-known scientific journal Nature. According to epidemiological studies, these pneumoviruses are relatively widespread. It has been circulating in the human body for at least sixty years.
The virus mainly causes the disease in young children, and the infection is the second most common cause of bronchitis in them.
Recall
The CDC reported a probable mutation of the avian influenza virus in the first critically ill patient in the United States. The virus has changed to better bind to human airway receptors, but the risk to the public remains low.
