DOH allays public fears over HMPV

MANILA, Philippines —There is no reason to panic despite the detection in the country of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), which is now causing a spike in respiratory infections in China, according to infectious disease specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante.

“This is not something new that we can compare with COVID when the hospitalization rate increased and severe cases were many. The cause (of HMPV) is not like that of COVID,” Solante said in a radio interview yesterday.

Citing results of the Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) surveillance of the Department of Health (DOH), Solante said a few cases of HMPV have already been detected in the country.

But he stressed that HMPV has not caused an increase in hospital admissions nor in the number of patients in intensive care units nationwide.

He explained that China and the United States have good surveillance systems that can easily detect HMPV and other respiratory pathogens that normally increase during this time of the year.

“These kinds of infections are common during winter or during late January or February. This is normal for them (China and US) and they can detect this because of very good surveillance,” Solante noted.

He said cases of HMPV are usually mild and those infected recover from the infection within three to four days. He added that HMPV is difficult to differentiate from other types of viral infection or even bacterial pneumonia.

Those infected with HMPV suffer from cold, cough, sore throat and seldom low-grade fever.

However, he reminded the elderly and those with existing lung defects such as asthma to take the necessary preventive measures for this could aggravate their condition and lead to severe infection and complications.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa yesterday reported that HMPV ranked sixth among the identified causative agents of ILI in the Philippines last year.

Herbosa said from Jan. 1 to Dec. 21, 2024, 284 out of 4,921 or 5.8 percent of positive samples were due to HMPV. 

“HMPV is being detected sporadically, with no unusual clustering or pattern, throughout the year,” Herbosa pointed out.

He reminded the public, especially the young, immunocompromised and elderly, to take precautions by