cold, influenza and the new coronavirus It may be the most popular, but little known, highly contagious virus It’s taking the West Coast by storm.
Wastewater SCAN data shows: human metapneumovirusAccording to the report, HMPV is prevalent in Northern California, particularly in San Francisco, Marin, Vallejo, Napa, Novato, Santa Rosa, Sacramento, and Davis.
The virus peaked sharply in January and remained elevated in early March, but the seasonal winter wave has now tapered off.
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HMPV belongs to the same virus family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and was first discovered in 2001, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS), part of the CDC, monitors samples of wastewater (sewage) for the presence of viruses and bacteria to detect patterns of community transmission.
“This is a single-stranded RNA virus, Influenza and new coronavirus” FOX News Senior Medical Analyst Dr. Mark Siegel told FOX News Digital. “The virus is on the rise, not just in the West, but across the country.”
Wastewater data also shows that HMPV is rapidly increasing in the Midwest and Northeast.
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The most common symptoms of the virus are healthy children For adults, symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath, according to the CDC.
People most at risk for serious illness such as pneumonia include young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. More than 650,000 people are hospitalized each year worldwide, Siegel said.
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Rare effects of HMPV include: asthma attackAccording to the CDC, these include wheezing, difficulty breathing, bronchiolitis (an infection of the small airways), ear infections, croup (a “barking” cough), and fever.
Adults with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) can experience complications if they become infected with HMPV. “It can worsen chronic lung conditions,” Siegel acknowledged.
virus can communicate According to the CDC, it is caused by close personal contact, coughing, sneezing, and touching contaminated surfaces.
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HMPV is most commonly reported during winter and spring.
Currently there is there is no vaccine The CDC says a treatment for the virus is needed, but that HMPV can be diagnosed through testing by a health care provider. Symptomatic treatment includes drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and resting.
The agency provides: Prevention method Helps control the spread.
