Kazakhstan's health ministry has confirmed 30 cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) as part of a broader surge in respiratory illnesses across Central Asia.
"Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) strains have been identified in Kazakhstan, along with other types of infections that actively circulate in the space during the seasonal increase in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza," the ministry announced on Sunday.
Testing revealed that HMPV cases represent 1.6% of positive results among 8,360 samples analysed since the start of the epidemic season. The country has also identified several other respiratory infections, with "680 cases of rhinovirus, 226 of adenovirus, 206 of coronavirus and 178 of parainfluenza," according to the ministry's statement.
The situation extends beyond Kazakhstan's borders, with neighbouring Kyrgyzstan's Healthcare Ministry reporting two HMPV cases in late 2024. "It turned out that this is not a new virus. People of all age groups can get infected, but symptoms are more pronounced in children under five and elderly people," Kyrgyz health officials explained.
The outbreak has drawn particular attention given recent developments in China, where hospitals have reported increased patient numbers with similar symptoms. The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that "there is a month-over-month increase of acute respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza, RSV and Human metapneumovirus (hMPV)" in China.
HMPV, first identified in 2001, presents with flu-like symptoms including cough, fever, and nasal congestion. Kazakhstan's total respiratory illness count has surpassed two million cases since October 2024, prompting health officials to issue preventive measures.
The ministry "urges all to avoid crowded places, use sanitisers, avoid close contact with those infected, stay at home when sick and seek medical care." Meanwhile, the WHO has indicated that current year-over-year influenza activity is "lower, meaning it is less than the same period last year."
Unlike the early stages of COVID-19, experts suggest there is likely to be more herd immunity against HMPV than for a novel virus. Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while emphasising that HMPV is a known pathogen that has been circulating globally for decades.
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