A newly emerging respiratory virus called Human Metapneumovirus,
HMPV
, has been quite in the news for the past year or so regarding its potential spread within a community setting and its significant impact on various at-risk groups, including children, the elderly, and others with compromised immunity.
Recently, China reported a fresh
outbreak of HMPV
with increasing numbers in India. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of China, general symptoms of HMPV have more or less characteristics similar to what people experience due to a simple cold, but this includes symptoms like coughing, fever, nasal congestion, and wheezing. Cases are more fatal when they morph into bronchitis or pneumonia as complications if affected patients have secondary conditions or even are immunocompromised.
What is HMPV virus?
Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is one of the respiratory viruses which mainly infect the respiratory tract. This virus belongs to the family of paramyxoviruses, which may include the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The symptoms that are caused by HMPV are similar to those of the common cold, such as cough, fever, nasal congestion, and wheezing. In more serious cases, it can cause severe respiratory diseases such as bronchitis or pneumonia, especially in groups such as very young children, older adults, and compromised immune systems.
Since HMPV transmits easily in groups, the organisation should implement preventive measures so that the employees’ health and well-being will not be affected.
Why is HMPV awareness important to be aware of at workplaces?
This is likely to have rapid transmission potential. Since it is through respiratory droplets upon coughing and sneezing by an infected person, the virus spreads readily. It thus becomes relatively highly contagious in workplace settings with mutual proximity among affected individuals.
It has greater implications for a susceptible population in which children, elderly people, and immunocompromised ones have a larger potential to undergo serious complications related to HMPV. More importantly, workers with vulnerabilities who are expected to be put into risk in different types of diverse workplaces need more protection.
- Early detection and prevention: Early detection is also possible if people are aware of the symptoms of HMPV. If the employees know what the symptoms are, they can seek medical care early enough to prevent the virus from spreading within the workplace.
- Protect workplace health: Educate employees about HMPV and the value of good hygiene practices at work so that the workplace can reduce the spread. Promote hand hygiene and sanitizing high-touch areas and encourage ill employees to stay home.
- Public health and business continuity-prevention of outbreaks of HMPV respiratory illnesses: By preventing the onset of such respiratory illness outbreaks as HMPV, there is prevention against a sick workforce and minimal impacts on business activities. This becomes especially true at the time of the flu season as several infections will be circulating around the community.
HMPV: Prevention measures at the place of work
The global spread of HMPV in the global scenario necessitates a preventive measure from the part of the workplaces, thereby preventing transmission and protection of employees’ health.
Therefore, through this awareness of the virus and hygiene practices, the employers can be helpful in the prevention of spread in the workplace by making the workplace safer and healthier for the employees. This will minimise the impact of HMPV if proper sanitation is maintained, sick leave policies and encouragement, improvement in ventilation, and vaccination should be promoted. Here are some of the most important prevention measures that should be taken at the workplace against HMPV.
Awareness of HMPV symptoms
This is one of the first management steps for handling the risk of HMPV transmission. Make sure that the employee is aware of the symptoms. HMPV is characterised by respiratory symptoms similar to the common cold, including cough, fever, nasal congestion, and wheezing, and in some cases, it can lead to more severe respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis.
Workplaces can create awareness by frequently distributing information about the virus and its symptoms, as well as information about how it is spread. The employers can circulate education material from health authorities, arrange informational sessions, or share reliable online resources. By informing the employees about the virus and asking them to report the symptoms early, the spread of the virus will be prevented and employees will take necessary precautions on time.
Proper hygiene
Prevention of the virus transmission requires good hygiene practices. The virus is mainly spread by respiratory droplets, especially through coughing and sneezing. Therefore, workplaces and institutions must be kept clean and healthy. Sanitization of high-touch surface areas, such as door handles, keyboards, shared equipment, and other commonly touched areas, becomes necessary for the prevention of HMPV. Supply hand sanitisers, disinfectant wipes, and soap in visible places around the workplace so that the employees can wash their hands as often as they want and build good hygiene. Other measures would include putting up signs that will be seen very often with how to wash one’s hands, use tissues when coughing or sneezing, and proper cough etiquette to drive hygiene behavior and, hopefully, reduce the transmission.
On-site vaccination drives
There is no specific vaccine for HMPV; however, by vaccination to overall respiratory health, the incidence of related respiratory infections can be lessened. Other vaccines like influenza and COVID-19 protect the employees from any respiratory disease. Many workplaces team up with health care providers for on-site vaccination drives to offer flu shots or routine health check-ups. Inculcation of flu shot update and awareness among workers reduce the likeliness of co-infection and decreased strain on the immune system at such times when influenza or COVID-19 hits their organization in epidemic season. Plus, such steps enhance a more productive workforce on an overall level.
Better ventilation
One of the important measures is better ventilation. Proper ventilation reduces the rate of airborne spread among respiratory viruses that include HMPV. Viruses would survive in a space for sometime; hence increased ventilation in workplaces minimizes airborne concentration of virus particles. All employers should carry out an examination of the HVAC systems in workplaces to ensure good working of heat, ventilation and air conditioning and allow proper and thorough circulation around the building.
In addition to the maintenance of HVAC systems, opening windows when feasible and using air purifiers in common areas will also help in improving air quality. Proper ventilation will dilute any viral particles in the air, which will eventually reduce the chances of employees being exposed to the virus. Allowance for sick leaves and working from home
Implementation of sick leave policy
This will encourage people to stay back when they feel sick and reduces the chance of presenteeism, which refers to coming into the office even if an employee is feeling ill. Thus, proper guidelines in place regarding sickness leave and allowing flexibility to work from home or at any remote location helps focus on recovery and avoid pressure for attending the office. Flexible work arrangements, especially in cases of mild illness, allow employees to continue working remotely while preventing the spread of illness in the workplace. Sick employees who stay home are also less likely to infect colleagues, thus reducing the overall impact of the illness on the workforce.
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I’m Manas Ranjan Sahoo: Founder of “Webtirety Software”. I’m a Full-time Software Professional and an aspiring entrepreneur, dedicated to growing this platform as large as possible. I love to Write Blogs on Software, Mobile applications, Web Technology, eCommerce, SEO, and about My experience with Life.
