By Anthonia Akanji
Disease outbreaks have been a recurring part of human history, with some classified as endemic confined to specific regions and others as pandemics, affecting multiple countries simultaneously.
A notable example is the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, which severely impacted global economies and public health. Other diseases with widespread effects include H1N1 influenza, Swine flu, Mpox, Anthrax, and the recently emerging Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV).
HMPV is a newly identified virus responsible for acute respiratory tract infections, particularly in young children. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatments for the disease. While cases are rising in China, experts emphasize that HMPV is a seasonal illness rather than a new pandemic threat.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has classified Nigeria as being at moderate risk for HMPV, as the World Health Organization (WHO) has not declared it a public health emergency of international concern. However, the NCDC has intensified surveillance of all respiratory pathogens to prevent the virus from spreading widely.
A public health expert with the Oyo State Hospital Management Board, Dr Ajibolu Oke, highlighted that children, older adults, and individuals with underlying health conditions are more vulnerable to HMPV. He stressed the need for greater awareness about the disease, improved healthcare infrastructure, and enhanced training for medical professionals to effectively manage such illnesses.
“Nigeria is improving her health care system but we need to ensure the following, increase more awareness about HMPV, upgrade healthcare facilities to meet emerging challenges and ensure proper training for health care providers at all levels and cadres about the disease and others as well as how to manage them”.
Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Mrs Adenike Adu listed HMPV symptoms as nasal congestion, sore throat, fever, cold, cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and rash. She warned that severe cases could lead to complications such as pneumonia and lung infections. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes, particularly in poorly ventilated spaces where people are not wearing masks.
“It can lead to other complications like pneumonia, infection to the lungs, and infection to the airways. Once a person infected sneezes, the virus spreads to other people who are not wearing nose masks in a place with poor ventilation.“
Interviews with Ibadan residents revealed that many are unaware of HMPV, with only a few having heard of it in the news. Medical experts advise people experiencing cold-like symptoms to take them seriously, as they may resemble HMPV.
Nigerians are also encouraged to avoid contact with sick individuals, maintain proper hand and cough hygiene, and wear face masks in crowded areas to curb the virus’s spread.
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