Warning over deadly virus 'you've never heard of' that's like flu and has no vaccine
10.04.2024 - 03:05
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A concerning virus that's not well known, similar to the flu but with no vaccine, has doctors worried after more people are getting sick from it.
This virus is called Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) and it's different from the usual colds because you can't prevent it with medicine or a jab.
Dr. Samer Sader from Carle Health in the USA says we need to watch out for symptoms in children and older people who are already very sick, as this virus can be deadly about 10% of the time, and these groups of people are more at risk.
He explained: "The people that we do worry about are the people who are getting treatments for cancer, people who are getting treatments for auto-immune disorders, and people who have chronic lung diseases such as bad emphysema, or COPD."
Dr. Sader also said: "It's just a matter of watching for complications. We'll ask patients, 'Does your lung disease get worse? Do you need more medicine? Do you get secondary pneumonia? Do you get in trouble because you're not eating and drinking enough? ' That's what we look for.", reports the Daily Star.
According to Public Health Scotland, HMPV can cause 'mild illness' but it can be severe if it's left untreated in in children, the elderly, or immunocompromised people.
The most common symptoms include:
The NHS website adds: "The number of people which suffer from hMPV each year is still to be determined. There's no specific treatment suitable for general use, and treatment is therefore aimed at supporting the patient and relieving symptoms.
"Ribavirin is an anti-viral drug licensed for treatment of RSV infection which is sometimes used in the management of severe illness. Its effectiveness is not established, and it may be associated with toxicity."
And while there is no