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Indonesia launches HMPV monitoring after uptick in China

The government has advised people to stay calm and take protective measures after it increased surveillance of HMPV to prevent the virus, which causes respiratory tract infections, from entering the country amid a slight rise in cases in China.

Dio Suhenda (The Jakarta Post)
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Mon, January 6, 2025

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Indonesia launches HMPV monitoring after uptick in China A stock illustration shows an X-ray depicting a person infected with human metapneumovirus (HMPV). (Courtesy of/Shutterstock)

T

he Health Ministry has started taking preventive measures in response to an uptick in the spread of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, while advising the public to remain calm and focus on maintaining a clean and healthy lifestyle.

In a press statement on Saturday, ministry spokeswoman Widyawati said although the government had yet to detect a HMPV infection in the country, it had started to monitor the disease’s spread in China and a handful of other countries.

HMPV causes respiratory tract infections, with mild cases exhibiting symptoms similar to a common cold or influenza, while severe infections can lead to bronchitis and pneumonia.

Being infected by the virus does not typically cause a fatal disease in adults, but it can cause serious health issues in immunocompromised individuals and people with weaker immune systems, including children and the elderly.

Widyawati said the government had tightened surveillance at points of entry, including monitoring international travelers who showed symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI).

"We will continue to coordinate with the relevant parties to ensure the preventive measures are effective,” she said, “so this virus does not enter Indonesia."

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