The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Adekunle Salako, has assured Nigerians that there is no need for panic regarding the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), emphasizing that it is not a new virus. He urged the public to focus on maintaining good hygiene, especially during this season when the virus is more prevalent.
Salako confirmed that HMPV has been identified in Nigeria as a cause of lower respiratory tract infections and severe respiratory issues, particularly among children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
In an interview with The Nation, Salako noted that the Federal Government, through agencies like the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and Port Health Services, has enhanced surveillance to prevent the virus from entering the country, particularly from regions where it is spreading rapidly.
“We have taken measures, including quarantine and sample collection from people arriving in Nigeria from China, to detect any carriers of HMPV. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria has significantly strengthened its capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks, as confirmed by the Joint External Evaluation conducted in 2023,” Salako stated.
The World Health Organization (WHO), in a report quoted by The Washington Post on January 7, reassured the public that HMPV does not currently pose a major public health threat. The WHO explained that the increased circulation of respiratory viruses, including HMPV, in China is in line with typical winter patterns and has not triggered any emergency declarations.
HMPV, a common respiratory virus, has been spreading in parts of Asia, including China, India, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan, according to Scientific American. However, public health experts have emphasized that this uptick is consistent with normal seasonal trends and does not warrant alarm.
Similarly, The New York Times reported on January 6 that the WHO has not raised significant concerns. Dr. Margaret Harris, a WHO spokesperson, stated that Chinese health authorities have reported a predictable seasonal increase in cases.
“As expected for this time of year, the Northern Hemisphere winter, there is a month-over-month rise in acute respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza, RSV, and human metapneumovirus,” Dr. Harris said via email.
