No cause for concern over HMPV case in Thessaloniki, EODY says

The National Organization for Public Health (EODY) has reassured the public following the confirmation of a human metapneumovirus (HMPV) case in a 71-year-old patient hospitalized in Thessaloniki. 

EODY stated that there was no reason for concern, adding that the virus is not new to the country. The patient reportedly had contact with a relative who recently traveled to China, though preliminary investigations suggest no direct connection to outbreaks in China. According to EODY, the circulation of the virus previously peaked in early February 2024 and had decreased significantly by the end of June 2024. Its current circulation remains very low.

While the virus often causes symptoms similar to the common cold, in rare cases it can lead to pneumonia or exacerbate conditions like asthma and COPD. The Greek Pulmonology Society emphasized that HMPV has been a known virus...