Young children are most affected, claim that an emergency has been declared in the country; Covid spread from Wuhan in 2019
After 5 years of Covid-19, a new virus infection is spreading in China once again. Its symptoms are also similar to the coronavirus. The name of this new virus is Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), which is an RNA virus.
When infected with the virus, patients show symptoms similar to those of a cold and COVID-19. It is affecting young children the most. Children under the age of 2 are the most affected.
According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), its symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion and sore throat. Apart from HMPV, cases of influenza A, Mycoplasma pneumonia and Covid-19 are also being reported. Due to which the number of patients is constantly increasing.
Claim- China declared an emergency
Photos of patients have been posted on social media claiming that China has declared a state of emergency in many places following the spread of the virus. According to the claim, hospitals and crematoriums are becoming overcrowded.
However, no such information has been provided by China. According to a report by The Star, the CDC has said that patients suffering from diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at higher risk of infection.
Coughing and sneezing increase the risk of spreading the virus. If the virus is severe, it can cause bronchitis and pneumonia. According to Reuters, China is also testing a surveillance system to combat this.
new virus First identified in 2001
The HMPV virus was first identified in 2001. A Dutch researcher discovered the virus in samples from children suffering from respiratory illness. However, the virus has been present for the past 6 decades.
This virus is present in the environment in all seasons, but the risk of its spread is highest in winter.
The coronavirus spread from China in 2019.
The first case of COVID-19 was detected in Wuhan, China, in 2019. It was then thought to be a mysterious pneumonia. It is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 new virus (coronavirus).
The new virus then spread rapidly around the world. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared it a global pandemic.
More than 700 million cases of Covid have been reported worldwide. Apart from this, more than 7 million deaths have also been reported.