If it seems like more people around youarewheezing,sneezingandcoughing, that’s because acute respiratory illnesses – including yet a relatively new one known as HMPV – are on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Texas is one of 10 states in the country with a rating of “very high” in the number of people seeking care from emergency department visits for respiratory illnesses ranging from the common cold to severe infections such as the flu, RSVand COVID-19.The CDC categorizes the number of illnesses in a state as minimal, low, moderate, high and very high.
Limestone and Freestone Counties emergency department visits are ranked very high for RSV, moderate for flu and low for COVID-19, according to to the CDC’s statistical information published on its website. All three illnesses are on the rise though, it adds.
In addition to Texas, the other states with very high classifications of acute respiratory infections are Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Kentucky,Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and New Hampshire.
HMPV stands for human metapneumovirus, a virus that is not familiar to many people.The CDC notes that the virus was discovered in 2001 among children in The Netherlands, but health care officials do not routinely test for it as there is no anti-viral treatment or vaccine for it now.
The World Health Organization reports that HMPV is a global threat, and Chinese health care officials are monitoring an increase in acute respiratory infections among children in the north of China, although the country’s health care system is not overwhelmed by it like with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The severity of viral infections can change over time so WHO monitors outbreaks worldwide, and the National Institute of Health contends that the etiology of 50 percent of pneumonia patients’ infections is not identified so there could be other undiscovered viruses causing illness.
HMPV causes upper and lower respiratory infections,andyoungchildren, olderadultsandpeoplewithimpairedimmune systems are especially at risk. The developments of bronchitis and pneumonia are common with the virus infection.
The symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion and shortness of breath. The incubation period is three to six days, and the duration is like other respiratory infections caused by viruses.
It is spread by sneezing and coughing, human contact such as shaking hands or touching contaminated surfaces like doorknobs and gas pump handles, then touching eyes, nose or mouth without washing hands.
The CDC urges patients and others to wash hands frequently with soap and water, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth, covering mouths when coughing and sneezing, avoid sharing eating and drinking utensils, refrain from kissing and shaking hands and staying home when sick.
