Spiking cases of the once ‘mystery’ illness from China have put UK health chiefs on high alert, with a sudden surge in numbers observed last week. China had to implement emergency actions earlier this month when the virus, identified as HMPV, began to spread rapidly throughout its northern regions.
Social media has been flooded with glimpses of overloaded hospital wards packed with afflicted youngsters, showing signs eerily reminiscent of Covid symptoms, reports the Mirror. Scenes akin to the early days of the Covid pandemic in 2019 have emerged in local news footage, displaying mask-donned individuals in hospital settings.
While China was grappling with rising instances of fever, coughs, and sore throats, research suggests the enigmatic ailment had already reached UK shores. And the most recent data from the Health and Security Agency in the UK indicates Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) incidents are climbing.
The latest figures reveal: “Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) positivity increased to 4.9%, with the highest positivity in those aged 80 years and over at 7.3%.”
In context, approximately 7,826 samples were tested, and this follows advice issued just weeks prior that Brits should “consider wearing a face mask” to prevent soaring case numbers. Moreover, Amanda Pritchard, NHS England’s chief executive, voiced concerns on X (previously known as Twitter) about the toll winter illnesses could take on the NHS.
She penned: “It is difficult to put into words just how tough it is for our frontline staff at the moment. We are really worried about the toll that flu and other viruses are taking on our patients and on services across the NHS.
“Not only are staff managing high levels of AandE attendances and ambulance calls, they are also caring for really sick people who have been admitted and need specialist care. While I was visiting AandE this week, despite such acute pressures, the compassion and skill displayed by staff was incredible – I know that this is the case up and down the country.
“We have plans in place to manage extra demand – we use critical incidents to manage and monitor pressures, we have more beds than we did last year and we have new ways of working which ensure people can get cared for at home.
“But the public can play their part too – please do seek help when you need it. We would rather see you sooner when viruses are easier to treat, than later when it is more difficult.”
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