The national health authority of Vietnam has pledged to closely monitor a recent outbreak of pneumonia caused by the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China while working with international and Chinese health agencies to keep the public informed about the situation and prevent unnecessary panic.

The Department of Preventive Medicine, under the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, released a statement about the outbreak on Sunday.

Last week, several international media outlets reported on a rapidly spreading outbreak causing alarm due to symptoms similar to flu and COVID-19, raising fears of another health crisis.

Social media posts have also circulated images of overcrowded hospitals and crematoriums in China, allegedly linked to cases of HMPV infection.

In response, Vietnam's Department of Preventive Medicine has reached out to the World Health Organization (WHO) and China’s International Health Regulations Focal Point to seek further information.

The WHO has yet to release official statements on the outbreak, while the reliability of the circulated information remains unverified.

According to disease surveillance data from China, common respiratory pathogens include the flu virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, HMPV, and rhinovirus. 

The Department of Preventive Medicine added that seasonal factors, including winter conditions, will contribute to increasing respiratory illnesses.

Last weekend, the Chinese foreign ministry described the surge in respiratory infections as a common seasonal trend, saying a peak in winter is expected.

Vietnamese health authorities will continue monitoring respiratory infections in China and urged the public to stay vigilant during the winter-spring season, as it is favorable for spreading respiratory viruses.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Than Manh Hung from the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases emphasized basic preventive practices for respiratory infections, including the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, HMPV, and seasonal flu.

People should maintain clean and ventilated environments, wear face masks in crowded areas, and wash hands regularly. 

The elderly and those with chronic respiratory illnesses or underlying health conditions should be vaccinated.

Residents should promptly seek medical attention if they develop respiratory symptoms such as fever, coughing, chest pain, or difficulty breathing.

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