NAIROBI, Jan 8 (NNN-KBC) — Kenya’s Ministry of Health has ruled out the potential outbreak of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) first reported in China.
In a statement on its Social Media platforms, the Ministry confirmed that no case of patients with symptoms of the disease has been reported in the country’s health facilities.
Five years after the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, a new respiratory virus outbreak in China, Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), has raised global concerns, especially for children and the elderly.
HMPV, a virus that causes a mild upper respiratory tract infection, was first identified in the Netherlands in 2001.
The virus spreads through direct contact between people or when someone touches surfaces contaminated with it. Its Symptoms for most people include cough, fever and nasal congestion.
The Ministry of Health reassured Kenyans that HMPV is not a new virus, since it has been documented in the past as a circulating pathogen that contributes to respiratory illnesses in the country.
Additionally, the Ministry has urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and observe basic public health practices.
It further advised anyone experiencing unusual cases of severe respiratory illness to seek medical attention from the nearest health facility as soon as possible or call toll-free line 719. — NNN-KBC
