There are growing concerns about the NHS in Wales being unable to cope after an increase in confirmed cases of a virus which is spreading around the world. Hospitals across the country are facing significant pressures with health bosses telling people not to attend if they have certain symptoms, or to wear masks if they are visiting loved ones on certain wards.
A big reason for this pressure is the spread of viruses including the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which has seen a sharp increase in Wales during the first week of January. The virus is causing concern across the globe, with China, India and Malaysia all dealing with an outbreak. Although not the same as Covid, the virus is raising questions about whether the NHS could become even more overwhelmed. First identified in the Netherlands in 2001, the virus is a common worldwide illness belonging to the same family as RSV – short for respiratory syncytial virus.
Dr Andrew Catchpole, a scientist at hVIVO, told the Mirror last week: “Whilst hMPV does mutate and change over time with new strains emerging, it is not a virus that we consider to have pandemic potential. This is because the changes in hMPV are gradual and based on previously circulating strains.” For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.
In Wales, the number of people testing positive for HMPV has gone up in the past week. According to data published by Public Health Wales (PHW), 43 people tested positive for HMPV after visiting their GP or surgery in the week up to January 8. That’s 7.8% of virus infections, up almost double from 4.2% the previous week, with Public Health Wales (PHW) confirming that: “Confirmed cases and test positivity for rhinovirus and human metapneumovirus has increased compared to the previous week.” When looking at “hospital and non-GP patients”, there were 64 confirmed cases in that same week, more than 1% up on the previous week. Case numbers in both settings are described as “increasing” by PHW.
According to the public health agency, HMPV is described as: “A virus belonging to the paramyxovirus family along with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Infection can cause upper and lower respiratory disease in people of all ages but especially the young and elderly. Symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath, and in more serious cases bronchitis and pneumonia which can be fatal especially in people with weakened immune systems. Transmission is highest during the winter months. There is currently no vaccine for metapneumovirus.”
The most common symptoms of HMPV include:
- Common cold or flu-like symptoms (cough, runny nose or nasal congestion, fever and/or chills)
- Asthma flare-ups
- Sore throat
- Wheezing
- Dyspnoea (shortness of breath)
More severe symptoms include inflammation of the airways of the lungs and inflammation and congestion in the small airways of the lungs in young children and infants as well as pneumonia. The estimated incubation period for HMPV is between three and six days.
But there are other symptoms of the common cold that people should be aware of, according to the NHS. Cold symptoms typically come on gradually over two to three says and last between one to two weeks. Typical symptoms of a common cold include sneezing, blocked or runny nose, a sore throat, hoarse voice, cough and feeling tired or unwell.
They can also include:
- A high temperature
- Aching muscles
- A loss of taste and smell
- A feeling of pressure in your ears and face
Dr Conall Watson, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “HMPV is a common respiratory infection in winter, and we typically see activity reaching a peak at this time of year. Infections are usually mild, causing symptoms of a common cold. Our surveillance systems in GP surgeries and hospitals indicate that levels are in line with what we would expect to see. Most people have had hMPV by the time they are five years old and catch it again throughout their lives.
“As with all respiratory viruses, you can help reduce infections being passed on through regular hand washing and catching coughs and sneezes in tissues and throwing them away. If you have symptoms such as a high temperature, cough and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable. There are many viruses in circulation at the moment, including flu – if you have symptoms of a respiratory illness and you need to go out, our advice continues to be that you should consider wearing a face mask.”