What did Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen say about the HMPV virus spreading in China?

At the regular Government press conference on the afternoon of January 8, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen said that the Ministry of Health is always closely monitoring the development of the epidemic caused by the HMPV flu virus in China.

Mr. Tuyen said that according to the results of the key surveillance of acute respiratory infectious diseases from December 23 to 29, 2024 by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the main agent was recorded as HMPV influenza virus.

Shortly thereafter, on January 4, 2025, the Chinese Foreign Ministry officially informed that respiratory infections spreading in this country are common diseases at different times of the year, with high numbers in winter and China currently entering this season, so it is not an unusual medical event.

HMPV virus is transmitted through the respiratory tract, through droplets when sneezing, running nose, talking. People infected with the virus will have symptoms similar to the common cold: fever, cough, runny nose, can cause bronchitis, pneumonia. Subjects with high risk of getting the disease are children under 5 years old or the elderly, people with underlying diseases due to weak immune systems.

Chinese health authorities have now confirmed that China's health system is not overwhelmed and that hospital occupancy rates are now lower than last year.

The World Health Organization also assesses that seasonal outbreaks of respiratory pathogens often occur in winter in temperate climates. The World Health Organization also recommends that people in countries during this period take basic measures to prevent the spread and minimize the risk of respiratory pathogens, especially for vulnerable groups.

The World Health Organization also recommends against any travel or trade restrictions related to the current acute respiratory disease trend.

In the face of this epidemic situation, the Ministry of Health also proactively monitors and updates through the surveillance system, which is carried out daily, with close coordination and sharing with the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control.

Currently, our country is also in the transition period to winter-spring, which is favorable for the development of viruses, including viruses that cause upper respiratory tract infections. The Ministry of Health has also issued a document recommending that people proactively prevent epidemics and sent a document to local health departments for implementation.

The Ministry of Health recommends that people regularly update information from the Ministry of Health to avoid causing panic, but at the same time, not to be subjective and negligent, and to implement disease prevention measures of the Ministry of Health such as using masks when going to crowded places, keeping warm in cold weather, taking children to get vaccinated according to instructions, eating nutritious food, exercising, and going to reputable facilities when there are signs of unusual health.