No need for public to panic

CHINA OUTBREAK: SA READY TO MANAGE RESPIRATORY VIRUS, SAYS HEALTH OFFICIAL

- Thando Nondywana

South Africa is ready and prepared to manage any outbreak or transmission of diseases or viruses from other parts of the world, as China battles with Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak. National department of health spokesperson Foster Mohale said the country continuously strengthens its preparedness, response and recovery strategies.

"The lessons learned from our Covid response will guide us in addressing other outbreaks, whether pandemics or epidemics," Mohale said.

This reassurance comes amid reports of HMPV spreading rapidly in China, prompting global attention.

"As the government, we're closely monitoring the situation in China like any other outbreak in other parts of the world, using our event-based surveillance and continually looking for updates on the situation," Mohale said.

HMPV, which mirrors symptoms of other respiratory illnesses such as Covid, has raised concerns due to its rapid spread in China, which has significantly strained their health care system. However, Mohale emphasised that there was no cause for alarm, saying this was the normal respiratory season in China.

"We will continue our routine surveillance and public health communications and act on any new information or alerts," he said.