Scientists claim to have discovered a subtle sign of a flu-like virus that has already wreaked havoc in China – and it’s in the skin.
Cases of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection have caused some concern among experts, amid rising levels in Britain and the US.
The virus is believed to be responsible for images of crowded hospital waiting rooms in China, in scenes eerily similar to the early days of Covid.
Scientists are almost certain that for the vast majority, the symptoms of hMPV will be very mild and similar to a cold.
But certain vulnerable groups – for example the elderly, immunocompromised children and young children – may not have an easy time with hMPV. And the resulting complications are different from those of the flu.
Yet there is another sign of the condition that is also different from a cold or flu, which could indicate that people have contracted hMPV.
Experts say a rash on the skin can be an early sign of infection.
A 2004 report by Dutch researchers, who analyzed more than a dozen studies and study groups on hMPV, found that a rash on the trunk – the chest, abdomen, pelvis and back – was one of the most common symptoms of the condition.
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There is another sign of the condition that is also different from a cold or flu, which could indicate that people have contracted hMPV. Experts say a rash on the skin can be an early sign of infection
Another American study from 2013, published in Pediatrics in overviewfound that ‘between 5 and 10 percent of children develop a rash during the infection.’
A third in 2016 by Italian scientists also listed ‘febrile convulsions, rash, diarrhea and vomiting’ as common symptoms.
Other typical signs of hMPV include symptoms similar to the coldsuch as a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat and fever that goes away after about five days.
More serious symptoms may occur, such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia, which usually affect people with compromised immune systems, with patients experiencing shortness of breath, severe coughing or wheezing.
Professor John Tregoning, an expert in vaccine immunology at Imperial College London, said that when hMPV infects children it is similar to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common winter bug that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.
“It is part of the cocktail of winter viruses that we are exposed to and, like other viruses, will be transmitted through coughing, sneezing and droplets,” he said.
As with the advice regarding Covid and RSV, those infected should “rest, stay hydrated and try not to spread it to others,” he added.
Professor Paul Griffin, director of infectious diseases at Mater Health Services in Brisbane, also said: ‘It certainly can and does cause serious illness, which is why I think it’s important people know it exists.’
Scenes of hospitals flooded with people in face masks are making the rounds on social media. Pictured, a baby wearing a face mask waits with relatives at the pediatric ward of a hospital in Hangzhou, eastern China, on January 6
Experts have warned that hMPV, which causes flu-like symptoms, can linger in the body for days and can easily be passed on to others.
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‘The challenge is there’s not much we can do at the moment other than inform people it’s there to reduce transmission.
‘There is no vaccine or antivirals, although there are some vaccines in development.’
Often patients are not tested for hMPV unless in the hospital, where doctors may need to clarify what is causing your symptoms.
This is done via rapid antigen tests – which examine a nasal swab – or a PCR test, which looks for traces of genetic material from the virus in nasal swabs.
The rise in hPMV in Britain is mainly affecting young children – who are among the most vulnerable to serious complications, official data shows.
Virus monitoring data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that one in 10 children tested for respiratory infections in hospital were positive for hMPV on December 23.
This is more than double the proportion of very young children who tested positive for hMPV at the end of November.
However, experts have repeatedly warned that case numbers are in line with expectations for this time of year.
Graphic shows the common symptoms (green check mark), occasional and possible symptoms (orange circle) and the symptoms that never occur (red cross) for colds, flu and Covid
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It comes as Great Britain does currently fighting with his own country separate tidal wave of flu.
Surveillance data monitoring England’s flu outbreak also suggests that hospital admissions have risen by a fifth in a week and are almost five times higher than in early December.
Figures show that last week alone, more than 5,400 beds were occupied every day by flu patients, 3.5 times more than in the same week last year.
Of these, 254 were in intensive care – a fifth more than the week before.
The virus is one of them ‘quademic’ of winter viruses adding to pressure on NHS services alongside noroviruses, RSV and Covid.
Symptoms typically appear about one to four days after exposure to the virus and last up to a week. But side effects, including fatigue, can last for weeks.