Update on the outbreak of what at first glance appears to be a rare respiratory virus: metapneumovirus. With everything we’ve been through since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been some excitement on social media. However, there are a few things we need to take into account before getting alarmed. Why not, there is no reason for this.
The first thing we need to know is what the news is about sp in spanish which is spreading through social networks, refers to the outbreak of this respiratory virus in USA. There are no warning signs in Spain, as we will see below.
Also, while metapneumovirus is spoken of almost like it’s a new virus, the truth is that it’s not at all like that. Physicians who specialize in respiratory viruses are well aware of this because it has been in existence for over 20 years almost all over the world every spring. In short, yes, this is the time when more infections with this virus can occur, but there is no reason to worry.
This is not a new respiratory virus
Metapneumovirus is a respiratory virus found in 2001V Netherlands. The researchers studied samples taken from children who had become seriously ill with some kind of respiratory virus. Some even required mechanical ventilation.
The existence of the virus was not known in the scientific literature, so they began a comprehensive analysis. They first raised him in a lab in cages of dogs, chickens and monkeys. This is done because viruses cannot reproduce or survive outside the cells, so they were used as a substrate. Then viruses were considered. microscope to see if its structure resembles that of a known pathogen.
First he reminded paramyxovirus, of which measles and respiratory syncytial virus are part. However, a more detailed analysis found its closest relatives. He avian metapneumovirus. It, as the name suggests, infects birds but not humans. However, it is believed that at some point it may mutate and pass to humans, leading to the emergence of this new respiratory virus.
In reaching this conclusion, the researchers considered cell samples taken from patients since 1958. All matched unidentified respiratory viruses. Indeed, in many cases this has been the case.
What are the symptoms of metapneumovirus?
As a rule, metapneumovirus manifests itself with a cold, which usually occurs in children and adults over 65. This is usually not associated with risk though infants 0 to 5 months and immunocompromised patients if they could become seriously ill requiring mechanical ventilation and intensive therapy.
This is what the United States is warning about: Hospitalization in the intensive care unit for the elderly and children this respiratory virus increased during the past spring. This is normal, as this is a seasonal virus, the main period of distribution of which falls on this period.
Normal situation in most countries of the world
In the United States, they will have to investigate the causes of this outbreak. However, in other countries there are no warnings about this. In Spain, for example, this spring there was no increase in the incidence of either children or adults.
About the first, from hypertext we talked to the pediatrician Irene Mate, who claims that it is a virus that usually manifests itself as a cold, so sometimes I can’t even define. However, there were no above-normal rates of childhood colds this spring. There have also been no more hospitalizations or serious cases due to this respiratory virus.
As for adults, we asked Immaculate houses with an arrow, virologist at the Respiratory Virus Reference Laboratory of the National Center for Microbiology. At the same time, it is recalled that “metapneumovirus is a spring respiratory virus that begins to circulate at the end of January-February.” And he adds that “this season was also like that and we had cases in February-March, but nothing special in the pre-pandemic seasons“.
So no, this respiratory virus is no more to be feared than other seasonal viruses. Do not panic.
Source: Hiper Textual
