INDEPENDENT | Published January 8, 2025
Authorities in Bali have asked nationals from China and Malaysia to fill out a health pass three days before their arrivals in the island nation
Indonesian authorities have started monitoring flights from China and Malaysia amid concern over rising HMPV infections.
According to the local health authorities, those travelling to Bali will have to fill out a form three days before their arrival to the island providing a record of passengers’ health indicators like body temperature, cold or flu symptoms.
It comes as more countries reported spikes in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections, though largely in line with winter seasonal trends. Singapore said on Wednesday it had witnessed a spike in HMPV infections at the end of 2024 but added that it was consistent with expectations due to increased social gatherings and holiday travel.
Dr Sanjaya Senanayake, infectious disease expert associate professor of medicine at The Australian National University, said it was “vital” for China to share information in a “timely manner”.
The virus, which causes flu or cold-like symptoms, has seen cases spiking across northern Chinese provinces this winter, particularly among children.
Amid a flurry of media interest, India’s health minister JP Nadda said HMPV’s “occurrence is not new” and there was “no reason to worry”.
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SOURCE: www.independent.co.uk
RELATED: Western experts demand answers on new viral outbreak in China as cases surge in US
The above is a grab from a video posted online claiming to show an overwhelmed hospital unit in China
DAILY MAIL ONLINE | Published January 8, 2025
Western experts have publicly called on China to be more transparent about a viral outbreak overwhelming its hospitals — as data shows the virus is growing in the US.
Beijing has downplayed footage of overcrowded waiting rooms and wards posted on social media, saying respiratory infections are ‘less severe’ and ‘smaller in scale’ compared to last year.
That has led some to fear there are similarities with the current situation and the Covid outbreak in 2019, which was initially played down by China.
It is thought China’s outbreak is being fueled by the relatively unknown virus human metapneumovirus (HPMV), which normally causes cold-like symptoms such as a blocked nose, headache, shivering and tiredness.
Dr Sanjaya Senanayake, infectious disease expert associate professor of medicine at The Australian National University, said it was ‘vital for China to share its data on this outbreak in a timely manner’, including ‘data about who is getting infected.’
He added: ‘Also, we will need genomic data confirming that HMPV is the culprit, and that there aren’t any significant mutations of concern. Such genomic data will also guide vaccine development.’
Their warning comes as the US experiences its own increase in HMPV cases, with positive test percentages doubling from the beginning to the end of December.
According to the latest CDC data, just under 300 positive test results reported during the last week of December, the latest figures available.
The US CDC said it is ‘monitoring’ the cases in China but believe they are ‘not currently a cause for concern in the US.’
According to the latest CDC data, just under 300 positive test results reported during the last week of December, the latest figures available.
The US CDC said it is ‘monitoring’ the cases in China but believe they are ‘not currently a cause for concern in the US.’
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SOURCE: www.dailymail.co.uk
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