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January 7, 2025 | 07:49 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The HMPV virus or Human Metapneumovirus, which recently broke out in China, has reportedly been found in Indonesia. All cases found involved children. In response to this, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin asked the public not to panic, because HMPV is not a new virus and is already known in the medical world.
"HMPV has long been found in Indonesia, if checked whether it is there, it is there. I myself yesterday saw data in several labs, it turned out that several children were infected with HMPV," said Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin in Jakarta, Monday, January 6, 2025 via a press release.
The Minister of Health explained that the HMPV virus is different from the COVID-19 virus. According to him, COVID-19 is a new virus, while HMPV is an old virus that is similar to the flu. The human immune system has known this virus for a long time and is able to respond well to it.
"Unlike COVID-19 which only emerged a few years ago, HMPV is an old virus that has been around since 2001 and has been circulating throughout the world since 2001. So far, nothing has happened," said the Minister of Health.
Regarding the news about the increasing cases of HMPV in China, the Minister of Health emphasized that the information is not true. This has also been confirmed by the Chinese government and the World Health Organization (WHO). According to him, the increase in cases of the common flu in countries with four seasons like China often occurs during the winter.
"I have seen the data, the virus that has increased in China is not HMPV but rather the H1N1 type or the common flu virus. HMPV is ranked number three in China in terms of prevalence, so that is not true)," said the Minister of Health.
Minister of Health Budi also emphasized that HMPV is not a deadly virus. This virus has characteristics similar to the common flu, with symptoms such as coughing, fever, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Most people who are infected will recover on their own without requiring special treatment.
Transmission of the HMPV virus is similar to other flu viruses, namely through saliva droplets from infected individuals. Although generally not dangerous, vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with certain health conditions still need to be vigilant.
Therefore, the Minister of Health appealed to the public to maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as getting enough rest, washing hands regularly, wearing a mask when feeling unwell, and immediately consulting a medical professional if suspicious symptoms appear.
"The most important thing is to stay calm and alert. By following the 3M health protocol, maintaining distance, washing hands and wearing masks, just like COVID-19, we can overcome this virus well," concluded the Minister of Health.
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