China is currently once again facing a mysterious epidemic. Many people who contracted a strange virus in northern China are flooding into hospitals, causing a congestion in almost all of China’s emergency services.
Especially affected, many children are transported to hospitals, presenting significant respiratory problems. This is what is revealed in many videos broadcast on social media, which have alerted the health authorities in this region of northern China.
According to initial findings, the virus in question is the «HMPV» or human metapneumovirus. Of the class of RNA viruses closely related to avian metapneumoviruses, it manifests itself with symptoms similar to those of influenza, such as coughing, fever, and a blocked or runny nose, in people of all ages. In some cases, particularly severe and advanced cases, people may experience shortness of breath, leading to severe bronchitis or even pneumonia. Like COVID-19, young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are the most vulnerable individuals.
As is customary for the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, official reports so far indicate an «increase in influenza-like illnesses.» Also, the Chinese authorities have not yet officially confirmed the appearance of the HMPV virus.
Once again, HMPV is considered a relatively recent virus and, therefore, no specific treatment has yet been developed to combat it, let alone prevent it, other than the sacred and sacred barrier measures to which the COVID 19 epidemic has sadly accustomed us.
For its part, the World Health Organization (WHO) has not yet declared the situation a global health emergency, but the increase in the number of cases has prompted the authorities to strengthen surveillance systems. Moreover, the WHO is obviously advising travelers to travel to the northern regions of China to postpone their trips. Finally, in a pastoral message, the organization has called on the authorities in Beijing to share more data and information on the evolution of this new outbreak with the international community.
In France, and particularly among the French health authorities, there is a complete silence. No information is being provided by either the Ministry of Health, through the alert distribution list of the Directorate General of Health (DGS), or the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS).
At the Quai d’Orsay, not much either. On the Foreign Affairs website and on the «last minutes» page, which is theoretically updated hourly on risks, nothing.
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