Human Metapneumovirus Definition, Signs & Treatment: Outbreak Left 4 People Dead in Queensland

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In the Far North Queensland aged care hospital, the human metapneumovirus (hMPV) outbreak has claimed four lives.

Health authorities, as stated by 9News, have done all they can to prevent additional deaths that occurred at the Herberton Hospital, which is near Cairns where the tests have confirmed that hMPV was present. This respiratory virus is deadly to vulnerable people like the elderly. The symptoms include difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing, hoarseness, runny nose, pneumonia, aggravation of asthma, fever and sore throat.

Dr. Richard Gair, the region's Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service director, stated that control measures for infection were already in place on the day it has become apparent that there was an outbreak of the said virus. It first appeared as a flu-like disease outbreak until the results were released on Friday, confirming that it was hMPV.

"It's not clear to me what else we could have done to prevent further cases," he said to ABC Radio on Monday. "There has been no further cases since the day after we put those measures in place," he added/

The said preventive measures include the limit of visitors, restriction of new admissions, and letting unwell staff to just stay at home.

The Courier Mail, on the other hand, reported that Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said that this outbreak in the hospital is unacceptable. There have been six more patients and 15 staff members that were infected.

Miss Palaszczuk added that Queensland Health is investigating this "very concerning" outbreak case and has intended to raise this issue with Mr. Cameron Dick, the Health Minister. Moreover, the examination had been called for by Shane Knuth, Dalrymple MP.

The authorities must "get to the bottom" of the disease outbreak as soon as possible. Miss Palaszczuk has said that the situation cannot continue.

In response to this, infection control staff has arrived at the hospital on Tuesday. "Assistance and advice has been provided to the staff at Herberton Hospital on measures to control the outbreak Initially anti-viral medication was provided for all unaffected residents and staff as a precaution in case the outbreak was due to influenza," Dr. Gair said.

Furthermore, it was said that the long-stay facility has provided in-patient elderly care, as well as respite and palliative care for 36 residents, Brisbane Times reported. They were tested also for other infectious agents as precaution. So was the staff.

Dr. Gair further stated that the CHHHS would continue to monitor this outbreak. Currently, there are four of the 15 staff that were infected have recovered while others are still recovering.