Five years after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China, concerns are mounting about another disease, the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). In this report, BENJAMIN SAMSON speaks with experts on the issue.
In late 2024, cases of the viral respiratory illness surged in northern Chinese provinces, alarming health officials around the world.
No cause for alarm?
In a chat with this reporter, a public health physician, Dr. Dele Alewo, called for calm, asking Nigerians not to panic.
He said, “Reports of the infections have also come from India, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and the United Kingdom, but the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have not issued severe warnings regarding a potential global threat.
“Fears of a new pandemic are unfounded. Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) has occurred commonly since it was first reported in 2001, and it is not classified as a notifiable disease like Covid-19 or influenza. China and other countries are simply experiencing the seasonal increase in HMPV typically seen in winter.
“Although images of hospitals overrun with masked patients have circulated widely on social media, HMPV is not like Covid. It has been around for many years. However, HMPV still poses risks to public health, especially for the identified vulnerable groups.”
The symptoms
On the symptoms of the disease, an infectious disease expert, Dr. Ahmad Maikano, said, “Common HMPV symptoms, such as a runny nose, coughing and fever, are typically mild. Young children, older adults and people who are immunocompromised may be at a higher risk of severe disease.
“The virus has circulated for at least 60 years, and genetic evolutionary studies suggest that it diverged from a bird virus between 200 to 400 years ago.
“HMPV causes regular annual seasonal epidemics, similar to the more widely recognised influenza virus. The typical HMPV season in the West is late winter to early spring. So this isn’t totally unexpected.”
Likewise, Alewo said, “Human metapneumovirus is another one of those winter respiratory viruses in the same family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and it increases during this time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The virus affects our nose, throat and chest, so it’s readily transmissible person-to-person.
“Researchers have been looking at this virus for some time, but because it doesn’t have the prominence of influenza and Covid-19, for example, it has not been as well known to either the medical community or the general public. It’s also less well known because we haven’t had easy and more widely available diagnostics.
“But now patients who are hospitalised, and even patients who are seen in doctors’ offices, can receive rather quick diagnostic tests. So, doctors are making this diagnosis more frequently than they used to. This virus has come to more attention, but it’s always been there.”
NIMR’s assurances
Although no case has been recorded in Nigeria, the Director-General of Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof. John Obafunwa, said the Institute was “fully prepared” to tackle any disease outbreak including the Human Metapneumo Virus circulating in China and other parts of the world.
He noted that NIMR was in close contact and would collaborate with relevant government agencies and institutions as the nation intensified efforts to strengthen its preparedness for all health emergencies.
“As the country’s foremost medical research institute, which conducts research into various health problems in the country and disseminate health research results through training courses, scientific publications, conferences, and workshops, among others, we are ready for any eventuality in the country.
“Following media enquiries about the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research’s preparedness, in view of the recent outbreak of the, we wish to assure the general public that the Institute is fully prepared, as Nigeria’s foremost research agency, to fulfill its mandate, concerning the outbreak, if the need arises.
“NIMR is in close contact and will be collaborating with relevant government agencies and institutions as the nation intensifies efforts to strengthen its preparedness for all health emergencies,” he said.
The NIMR boss also stated that the Institute aligned with the views and positions of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on the disease outbreak, urging the public to adhere to the agency’s public health advisory.
FG’s charge, avowals
A Director at the Department of Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs Chidinma Agbai, in an interview with this reporter emphasised the need to implement measures that can quickly address future disease outbreaks.
She said, “While Nigeria is not directly affected at the moment, proactive planning, preparedness, and collaboration are essential to safeguarding our citizens and mitigating any potential risk.
“All hands must be on deck. If all hands are on deck, we’ll be able to secure the borders of Nigeria and ensure that whoever is coming in with the virus will be nipped in the bud and treated as well.
“We have to put the right measures in place to ensure that whenever any case of Covid-19 variant or HMPV comes, we will be able to arrest it at the point of entry.”
She highlighted a major assessment that was completed last year, resulting in the designation of additional points of interest to expand the capacity to respond to public health emergencies.
“We have good synergies with the civil society organisations, Immigration Service, Customs Service, among others. We are planning, training, and retraining on Infection Prevention and Control. We are expanding this beyond the health sector and looking at a more multi-sectoral approach that would be effective to support the overall implementation of this plan,” she said further.
Caution
However, an expert in vaccine immunology, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Dr. Aliyu Bunza, has urged Nigerians to be cautious.
He said, “Although a risk assessment carried out by the NCDC, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the UK Health Security Agency, has classified HMPV’s risk in Nigeria as moderate. Nigerians still need to be cautious.
“This assessment suggests that Nigeria is enhancing its readiness and response to potential health threats. Although HMPV cases have not been reported, maintaining preparedness is still essential. While a pandemic-like spread seems unlikely, there are valuable lessons to learn from the Covid-19 experience.
“It is cheering that Nigerian health authorities are taking steps to improve readiness in response to growing global worries. Although a vaccine is not yet available, and one is still being tested, maintaining good hygiene and following health guidelines is crucial. Access to preventive measures like hand washing, proper coughing etiquette, and vaccinations for other respiratory illnesses remains essential.”
He said further, “Community leaders and organisations should play a key role in these efforts, encouraging local support for public health measures. It is critical to ensure that laboratory testing remains reliable and that data analysis is used effectively to track trends and predict outbreaks.
“Improving the health care system is vital. Ongoing public education, awareness campaigns, and investment in research are necessary. The risk posed by HMPV should not be overlooked. By acting decisively now, Nigeria can reduce the threat of this virus and protect the health of its citizens. Immediate action is needed.”
Misconceptions
In his contribution, the Director of Health and Social Care at the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Olufemi Ayoola, stressed the need to address the circulating rumours about the virus.
“We need to be familiar with the virus, this is an acute respiratory virus and not a variant of Covid-19,” he said.
He said concerned about public anxiety on the HMPV and the overall public health safety in Nigeria, the NOA has commenced a nationwide awareness campaign to equip citizens with necessary information on the new virus.
He said, “The enlightenment campaign is to ensure more Nigerians get necessary information about the virus and how to prevent it. The virus is not yet in Nigeria, but efforts to prevent it from reaching the country include an awareness campaign which the agency is mandated to undertake.
“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has implemented proactive measures to ensure public safety. As of now, there are no reported cases of HMPV in Nigeria. We urged the public not to panic and to continue their daily activities while adhering to basic hygiene practices such as regular hand-washing and maintaining a clean environment.”
He encouraged Nigerians to take simple preventive steps such as wearing nose masks in crowded places, especially at airports, maintaining good hand hygiene by washing hands regularly and avoiding close contact with sick individuals.
“We want Nigerians to know that while there is no known cure for HMPV, preventive measures and adherence to NCDC protocols can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
“National Orientation Agency will continue to work with the NCDC and other health partners to raise awareness and provide accurate information in every local government area and rural community across Nigeria. As part of this campaign, the NOA urges Nigerians to rely on verified information from trusted sources and avoid spreading unverified rumors that could cause panic.”
NCDC’s declaration
Meanwhile, the NCDC has assured Nigerians that HMPV poses no serious threat at the moment. The assurance was given by its Director-General, Jide Idris, who disclosed that the virus is not a new one.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Idris stated that HMPV is behind respiratory issues, but is not well known.
He said, “Let me say, there’s no serious threat for now. That’s one. Two, this HMPV virus, it’s not a new virus. It’s just that it’s not well-known. But it’s been implicated in many respiratory infections over the years, over the countries, especially in children, and elderly people.
“Just like the normal flu, old virus or influenza, respiratory virus, it’s just one of those causes of respiratory problems.
“We are in a monitoring and alert phase, and that’s why again we take instructions from WHO globally because every country is supposed to report cases like this, any case; any problem to WHO – those things that they consider might become global problems later so that they can alert every other country to get prepared.”
Continuing, he said, “That’s precisely what we are doing in Nigeria. We’ve experienced some major problems – we had Ebola, and we had Covid-19.
“With those two, we developed some capabilities. We learned our lessons and put infrastructures in place. So we’ve got public health infrastructures.
“These are things you need to put in place in expectation of things like this so that you don’t have to start running helter-skelter.”