SA monitoring HMPV outbreak in China: Motsoaledi

Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi says South Africa is monitoring the Human Metapneumovirus, or HMPV outbreak in China, to help mitigate against any spread in this country.

China is currently facing a surge in respiratory illnesses, with some hospitals overflowing.

It is reported that this is due to the resurgence of HMPV, a virus that causes flu-like symptoms.

Speaking on the sidelines of his oversight visit at the flooded General De La Rey Hospital in the North West Province, Motsoaledi says discussions on what will be done in case of an outbreak in South Africa are ongoing.

“There is a team that has been working for the whole year in Geneva, Switzerland. That team is called an inter-governmental negotiating body. It is chaired by somebody who was our Director-General of Health in the country and they are negotiating what must happen if a new pandemic comes. You remember during the COVID-19 pandemic, the rich nations wanted to take the vaccines for themselves and leave the poor ones out, so that negotiation is going on, it’s only that it was delayed. Don’t think we are just folding our arms and waiting. These issues were also debated at United Nations when I was there in September.”