Metapneumovirus in Kazakhstan - Healthcare Ministry made a statement

Tengrinews.kz - The Ministry of Healthcare commented on media reports about the spread of metapneumovirus (hMPV) in the world, which is an acute respiratory viral infection.
The Ministry noted that human metapneumovirus is one of the classic viruses that has been circulating in many countries for decades.

"Strains of this virus have also been identified in Kazakhstan, along with other types of infections that actively circulate in the space during the seasonal increase in acute respiratory viral infections and influenza," the department said.

According to the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control, 8,360 samples have been tested for non-influenza viruses in Kazakhstan since the beginning of the epidemic season. Of these, 1866 (22%) positive samples were detected, including rhinovirus, which was the most widespread - 680 samples or 36.4%, followed by RS virus - 433 (23.2%), adenovirus - 226 (12.1%), coronavirus - 206 (11.1%), parainfluenza - 178 (9.5%), bocavirus - 113 (6.1%) and, last of all, metapneumovirus - 30 (1.6%).

"Metapneumovirus is transmitted mainly by airborne droplets and to a lesser extent by contact and household means. The main symptoms of the infection are cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, fever, headache. There is no specific treatment, symptomatic treatment is used," the Ministry of Healthcare reported.

It is noted that at present, a seasonal increase in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza is being recorded in Kazakhstan. Since October 1 of this year, 2 002 335 cases of acute respiratory viral infections and 941 cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza have been registered in the republic, including 910 cases of influenza type A (H1N1), 1 case - A (H3N2) and 30 cases of influenza B.
The Ministry of Healthcare is calling on the population to take preventive measures and limit contacts in crowded places, especially for the most vulnerable patients with chronic diseases.
Earlier, it was reported that China was faced with a new outbreak of a viral disease - human metapneumovirus. According to media reports, the virus is spreading rapidly, causing hospitals to be overwhelmed with patients.
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