Friday, January 10, 2025

BASIC MEASURES WILL KEEP HMPV AT BAY

Understanding HMPV (Human Metapneumovirus) helps us stay ...

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Experts: Virus is common and no cause for panic

GEORGE TOWN: Despite the spread of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) that brings runny noses to common influenza-like illnesses, Malaysians can still go on their Chinese New Year holidays with peace of mind, say health experts.

Most of the viruses that cause these respiratory disorders are present in Malaysia throughout the year but infection spikes in temperate countries during their winter months can increase local infection rates due to international travel, they said.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) family medicine specialist Dr Mastura Mohd Sopian said HMPV, which is recording a significant number of cases in China, had affected Malaysia due to the heavy flow of travellers between the two countries.

She said genetically, HMPV shares similarities with Covid-19, as both are ribonucleic acid (RNA) based viruses.

“HMPV is not as severe as Covid-19, particularly in terms of transmission risk. It doesn’t spread as quickly nor is it as dangerous as Covid-19.

“While its structure is somewhat similar, the replication process and other genetic factors differ, making it less impactful compared with Covid-19,” she said.

Dr Mastura said the basic precautions learned during the pandemic years are enough to keep HMPV at bay – these include frequent hand-washing, wearing masks, avoiding crowded places and limiting activities in enclosed spaces like malls.

ALSO READ: Health Ministry monitoring rise in acute respiratory infections

USM virologist Dr Kumitaa Theva Das said HMPV is a common virus and most adults would have been infected by it at least once.

“They might not realise it because the symptoms are so much like the flu. There have been cases where the symptoms can progress to bronchitis or pneumonia in those who are very young or elderly with a weakened immune system, but these are rare.

“Like any virus, HMPV can spread when in close contact with droplets left by an infected person, through coughing and sneezing.

'CLICK TO ENLARGE'

“We could also become exposed if we touch our mouth, nose or eyes after touching an infected surface.

“Since HMPV infections occur in younger children, families travelling with kids can be more mindful and seek medical help if a respiratory infection is prolonged or gets more severe,” she added.

State health committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said so far the situation in Penang is under control and tightly monitored by health authorities there.

He advised the public to take the same safety measures they did during the Covid-19 pandemic as a precaution and to prevent further spread.

He said those who experience prolonged or worsening symptoms should seek medical attention immediately at the nearest healthcare facility.

Gooi added that the public can use the same techniques they used during the pandemic, like always covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, either by using a tissue or wearing a face mask.

He said wearing a face mask is highly recommended, particularly for people at high risk of infection or those showing symptoms.

This is especially important in enclosed or crowded spaces where the risk of transmission is higher.

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Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Exercise your fingers to stimulate your brain

Getting your fingers to do a movement pattern is like a secret handshake between your brain and your fingers. — Pexels

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As cliche as it sounds, it’s that season again to start making fitness goals as another new year rolls around.

Instead of just focusing on the usual resolutions to get your body fit and healthy in 2025, why not add in some simple workouts for the brain as well?

This “brain gym” is fun, can even be a party game and doesn’t require much – only your fingers.

Numerous studies show that finger coordination exercises can activate the cerebral cortex and delay the decline of cognitive function.

No matter our age, we all have the occasional memory lapse, but ageing alone is generally not a cause of cognitive decline.

Like working out your skeletal muscles, the brain needs to be exercised too – without gadgets.

Challenging your brain with mental exercises is believed to activate processes that help maintain individual brain cells and stimulate communication among them.

You won’t work up a sweat, but don’t be surprised as to how tired your brain feels afterwards.

The seemingly simple, but brain-challenging exercises require both hands to be engaged simultaneously and are intended to enhance coordination, focus and dexterity, as well as stimulate vital neural connections.

Remember, it’s not just about moving your fingers, but moving them with fluidity and without any kinks.

For kicks, I asked a few of my much younger colleagues to attempt the exercises and they burst out laughing in embarrassment when they realised they couldn’t do them!

With regular practice, you will get better and will discover that your brain (hopefully!) works better too.

There are four exercises demonstrated on this page for you to try.

Do each exercise 10-20 times.

Start slowly and pick up speed once your brain starts adapting to the exercise.

Initially, you’ll notice that your eyes will dart from one hand to the other to watch the movements.

Eventually you should focus in front, not on the fingers.

Rope in a partner and do it together.

Laugh, but don’t give up when the going gets tough.

See you all in the new year!

Revathi Murugappan is a certified fitness trainer who tries to battle gravity and continues to dance to express herself artistically and nourish her soul. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information contained in this column is for general educational purposes only. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

1a) Start by placing both hands on a flat surface or table. — Photos: FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival kicks off

The opening ceremony of the 41st China Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is held in Harbin, capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on January 5, 2024. Photo: VCG

The 41st China Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival kicked off at Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sunday. Themed "Dream of Winter, Love among Asia," the festival offers visitors a diverse range of activities, some of which are related to the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games, further enriching the festival's cultural legacy, according to a press release the local publicity department sent to the Global Times on Sunday.

During the opening ceremony, Harbin Ice-Snow World was bustling with crowds.

Sun Zemin, a deputy director of the Sales and Marketing Department of Harbin Ice-Snow World Park Co, Ltd, told the Global Times that this year's Harbin Ice-Snow World is larger than it has ever been and features the greatest number of ice sculptures in its history.

According to Sun, the scenic spot covers an area of 1 million square meters and uses 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow. The design and planning of this edition focus on the 9th Asian Winter Games, meticulously creating iconic landscapes from 42 countries and three regions.

Also on Sunday, the official song of the 9th Asian Winter Games, "Light Up Asia" was released. The song closely adheres to the theme of the festival, further promoting the vigorous development of ice and snow sports in Asia.

One of the standout events of the festival is the 41st public ice and snow collective wedding set to take place at the park on Monday. One of the key activities of the festival, this collective wedding tradition is the first wedding ceremony in China to use ice and snow as a medium. Successfully held for 41 years, it has attracted 1,320 newlywed and anniversary couples from over 20 countries across the five continents, showcasing its international influence, the press release noted.

Li Chen, the director in charge of the event, told the Global Times that for this iteration, a total of 42 couples from 17 provinces and regions across China, including the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in South China and East China's Jiangsu Province, are participating in the wedding ceremony.

"Many young couples nowadays prefer to have destination weddings, and this public collective ice and snow wedding offers them a unique experience. Many of them are drawn to the symbolism of 'pure love' behind an ice and snow wedding," Li said, adding that in just over 30 days, the 9th Asian Winter Games will be held. The couples will hold the mascots of the 9th Asian Winter Games - "Binbin" and "Nini" - as they make their promises of love.

Su Xin, a local citizen, told the Global Times on Sunday that Harbin, his hometown, is also offering many new travel products to attract tourists from around the world. For example, the K5197 train from Harbin to Yabuli South, the first train under the China Railway Harbin Group to take ice and snow tourism as its theme, started operation on Thursday.

"The train ticket is only 20 yuan [$2.70], and I could see many passengers dressed in different costumes taking photos in cabins sporting different themes," he said.

According to the China Ice and Snow Tourism Development Report (2025) released on Sunday, in the 2024-25 ice and snow season, the number of ice and snow leisure tours is expected to reach 520 million, with tourism revenue anticipated to exceed 630 billion yuan. The report also notes that during the 2023-24 ice and snow season, the number of ice and snow leisure tours was 430 million, with tourism revenue hitting 524.7 billion yuan. This highlights a significant stimulation effect in ice and snow tourism consumption.

Li noted that Harbin's ice and snow tourism boasts a history of over 40 years, giving it a rich tourism foundation. The local government and residents' emphasis and maintenance of their hometown's ice and snow tourism brand have made Harbin a top-level destination for winter tourism in China.

"I can truly sense that an increasing number of locals are taking the initiative to contribute to the development of our hometown's ice and snow brand. The atmosphere is incredibly harmonious," Li remarked.

He further noted that Harbin is actively sharing its winter tourism expertise with other cities in China that are developing their own tourism models, adopting an "open and inclusive attitude."

The China Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is the first international festival in China's history to focus on ice and snow activities and has become the world's longest-running ice and snow festival. It is not just a festival but a symbolic event for Harbin's winter tourism, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists each year, the press release noted.

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Exclusive: HMPV 'not a new virus'; China's respiratory infection within usual range, says WHO

The headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. File Photo:Xinhu

As respiratory diseases enter a peak period in winter, multiple foreign media outlets have been exaggerating reports of a surge in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in China, claiming that it has overwhelmed local hospitals. Commenting on the matter, the World Health Organization (WHO) told the Global Times exclusively on Wednesday that Hmpv is not a new virus, but a common one which usually causes symptoms similar to the common cold.

China's reported levels of respiratory infections are within the usual range for the winter season. Authorities report that hospital utilization is currently lower than this time last year, and there have been no emergency declarations or responses triggered, the WHO said.

In recent days, foreign media including CNN, BBC, and the Washington Post have reported a spike in HMPV cases in China, alleging that it has overwhelmed hospitals, with some attempting to draw parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to media inquiry on the seasonal spike, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday that the Chinese government has and will continue to release information about infectious diseases in a timely and transparent way in accordance with law.

The WHO also responded to the concerns, noting that based on what has been reported by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and meetings between WHO and Chinese authorities, there has been a rise in the number of common respiratory infections in the country, as expected during winter.

The organization assured that China has a sentinel surveillance system for influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory infections. According to China CDC data, the pathogens causing these infections are known ones, and they include the seasonal influenza virus, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), HMPV, and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).

Among the pathogens reported by China CDC, seasonal influenza is by far the most common and is increasing. WHO's Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) has registered rising trends in influenza in the Northern Hemisphere, where it is currently winter, across parts of Asia, Europe, Africa and a few countries in the Caribbean.

Regarding HMPV, the WHO said the virus is first discovered in 2001 - it is a common virus that circulates in winter and spring, usually causing respiratory symptoms similar to the common cold. In some cases, it can lead to more severe diseases like bronchitis or pneumonia. The youngest and the oldest are most at risk, along with those who are immunocompromised, that is, those who have weakened immune systems.

The positivity rate for influenza viruses is continuously rising, with more than 99 percent being influenza A, predominantly the A(H1N1) pdm09 subtype, according to the latest data from the China CDC. Traditional Chinese medicine methods are among the approaches recommended for flu prevention, said an expert at a press conference held by the National Health Commission on Sunday.

The level of influenza activity varies across regions, with a more noticeable rise in northern provinces, although it remains lower than the same period last year, showed the latest data released by China CDC for the week from December 23 to 29, 2024.

"Over the past two years, awareness of HMPV infections in China has grown despite the virus being first identified more than 20 years ago, and has been circulating among people for as long as 60 years. The increase of awareness is primarily due to the improvement in our country's respiratory pathogen detection capabilities and the increased public attention toward respiratory infectious diseases," Li Tongzeng, the chief physician of the infection department at Beijing You'an Hospital, told the Global Times.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, nucleic acid testing technology for respiratory pathogens has been significantly promoted in China, and many medical institutions can now conduct such tests, leading to an increase in detection rates for HMPV as well as other pathogens, Li said.

The expert added that another significant advancement in China regarding respiratory infections post-pandemic has been the establishment of a large number of sentinel hospitals to monitor respiratory pathogens.

"As a result, we are now able to see regular updates from the China CDC on the types of respiratory pathogens circulating. Additionally, drug stockpiles have significantly improved over the past two years," Li noted.