However, Budi Gunadi Sadikin advises people to be cautious as hMPV can be classified as dangerous for humans who lack immunity
Indonesia's Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Wednesday that human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has not caused any deaths in the country and that people should not be concerned.
"The hMPV almost does not cause death. I already checked the latest data, and all data show that 100 percent of patients returned home safely," state-run Antara News Agency quoted the minister as saying.
However, he added that the hMPV can be categorized as dangerous for humans who lack immunity as they cannot fight the virus. In such cases, the virus can cause death.
When asked about the current spike in cases in China, Sadikin said such a rise is common in countries with four seasons and that the primary cause of the surge in China is Influenza H1N1.
On Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) clarified the rising circulation of respiratory viruses, particularly hMPV, saying China is consistent with typical winter patterns, with no emergency declarations issued despite growing concern about the situation.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) reported an uptick in common respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hMPV, and SARS-CoV-2, in its latest data covering up to Dec. 29.
WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said similar trends in rising influenza cases have been observed across the Northern Hemisphere, including parts of Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean.
Discovered in 2001, it typically causes mild respiratory symptoms similar to the common cold but can lead to more severe illnesses, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, the spokesperson said, explaining that the youngest and the oldest are most at risk, along with those who are immunocompromised, that is, those who have weakened immune systems.
