Ukraine, 13 confirmed cases of HMPV

As reported by the Kiev Center for Public Health, thirteen cases of metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection have been officially confirmed since the beginning of the year. However, according to an infectious disease specialist interviewed by the Dnipro Nashemisto news agency, the actual number of cases may be significantly higher, possibly reaching a magnitude that is much greater than the thirteen cases officially confirmed. According to Ukrainian infectious disease specialist Olga Golubovskaya, the potential causes of the virus’s spread are found in the evolutionary and adaptation processes of microorganisms that have taken advantage of the changed immune landscape following the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic. HMPV, which is spreading in China, can cause upper and lower respiratory tract diseases in people of all ages, especially young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. There is currently no specific treatment available, though promising research is underway. A vaccine developed by US Moderna has shown positive results in Phase I clinical trials. This vaccine utilizes messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology to stimulate an immune response that generates neutralising antibodies. As of October 2019, the vaccine had passed Phase I and was found to be well-tolerated at all doses over two months.