Experts highlight skin changes as a key symptom of the surging HMPV infection, raising concerns globally.
London: Experts are saying that if you notice any skin changes, it might be a sign of the worrying HMPV infection. This virus is on the rise in various parts of the world, including the UK, where cases have been climbing after causing issues in countries like China, India, and Malaysia.
For most folks, HMPV just brings on cold-like symptoms. But for some, it can be pretty serious. One standout symptom that sets it apart from a regular cold or flu is a rash.
Researchers from the Netherlands found that rashes on the chest, abdomen, pelvis, and back are common signs of HMPV. A study in the US showed that about 5 to 10 percent of kids with HMPV developed a rash.
Another study from Italy also noted rashes, along with other symptoms like seizures and vomiting. Other typical signs include a runny or blocked nose, a sore throat, and a fever that sticks around for about five days.
As symptoms can worsen, some people might need hospital care. Professor John Tregoning from Imperial College London mentioned that HMPV is just one of the many winter viruses we encounter, spreading through coughs and sneezes.
Professor Paul Griffin from Mater Health Services in Brisbane added that HMPV can definitely lead to severe illness.
The UK Health Security Agency reported that one in ten children tested for respiratory infections in hospitals at the end of December had HMPV, and that number has doubled since late November.
Paul Hunter, a medicine professor at the University of East Anglia, explained that HMPV is a common respiratory virus. Even after childhood, people can expect to get it multiple times throughout their lives. Most infections happen in winter, and it can be tough to tell apart from other respiratory infections without testing.
Most cases are mild, resembling a cold, and people usually bounce back in two to five days. However, young kids can experience more severe symptoms, similar to those caused by RSV. HMPV generally isn’t as severe as RSV in children and is less likely to require intensive care.
In older adults and those with certain health issues, HMPV can be more dangerous, especially for people with heart and lung conditions. There’s no specific treatment for HMPV; instead, patients are kept comfortable until they recover. If someone gets really sick, the focus is on helping them breathe normally.
Currently, there’s no vaccine for HMPV, but several are in development. A combined HMPV and RSV mRNA vaccine has recently started trials.
In the UK, HMPV-positive samples rose significantly in the weeks leading up to Christmas, hitting 4.5% of samples tested in the last week. The latest data from early January suggests that infection numbers may have peaked, with the positivity rate holding steady at 4.5%.
During the same week, 21.9% tested positive for flu, down from 27.7% the week before. The HMPV levels this year are similar to those from the past two years in the UK, indicating that the infection rates are about what we’d expect for this time of year.
We’ll have to see if HMPV infections start to drop in January. The situation in the UK mirrors what’s happening in the US, although rates there are still lower than last winter’s peak.
In China, reports of HMPV infections have been rising in the northern regions, but so have reports of other respiratory viruses like seasonal flu and RSV.
Influenza remains the most commonly detected respiratory virus in China, just like in the West. The World Health Organization recently noted that the increase in respiratory pathogens in China is within the expected range for this time of year. If health services are overwhelmed in China, flu is likely the main concern.
Experts feel confident that HMPV won’t pose a significant global health risk. The situation with HMPV is quite different from COVID back in early 2020. HMPV isn’t new, and most people have some immunity from past infections.
Also, the “F protein” on HMPV, which our antibodies target, has remained stable for decades, making new variants unlikely. But we should stay vigilant about any infectious disease and keep an eye on developments in China, adjusting our risk assessments as needed.
