Health Ministry prepared for any possible cases of HMPV in Guyana

…says health officials monitoring the situation

As concerns grow around the world about Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony revealed that there are no recorded cases of HMPV in Guyana and the Health Ministry is well geared to deal with any possible cases of the virus, after dealing with similar strains of the virus before.
He made this disclosure Friday, during an interview with the Guyana Times.
According to Dr Anthony, health officials in Guyana have been monitoring the situation, and so far, no cases have been identified.
“We have been checking. We haven’t had any cases here, and the region has the capability of being able to diagnose. In fact, this is not a new thing,” he stated.
Dr Anthony clarified that HMPV is not a new pathogen and that there is no cause for alarm, as the virus has been around for many years.

“This is something that has been around for many years, and looking at the disease profile, it is not one where you have a high fatality rate. So, it’s not a new disease; it’s something that has been around and in existence. It’s not a new pathogen,” he explained.
There has been a nearby strain of the virus, and Guyana has successfully managed similar diseases in the past.
“We have had cases of, let’s say, a cousin of this particular disease, which is RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus), and we have been able to manage them quite successfully. So, we don’t anticipate a challenge, but since we have seen whatever is going on globally, we have ensured that we can collect samples and send those samples for diagnosis,” he said.
Dr Anthony assured that the country is prepared to address any cases of HMPV, should they arise.
When asked if Guyana is currently screening for HMPV at ports of entry, Dr Anthony indicated that measures are not in place due to the virus presenting flu-like symptoms.
“This is something that, because you’ll get flu-like symptoms, we haven’t put those measures in place. But if people get sick and they come into one of our facilities, or they come for a test, we’ll obviously be able to take that sample and then be able to make the diagnosis,” he stated.
He added that, this approach aligns with global practices in dealing with infectious diseases, noting that many variants of such diseases will continue to emerge.
“And that’s what everybody else is doing. With infectious diseases, one of the things you will see happening is that many more of these things will come to the fore. What is important is that you have a system where you are prepared to manage them,” he explained.
In Guyana, the Health Ministry has done significant work to manage viral diseases. This year, the Ministry aims to expand its efforts, having received US$15 million from the Pandemic Fund to strengthen its surveillance and laboratory systems. These funds will also support the recruitment of more specialists in the Ministry of Health.
This initiative, expected to begin in March and span three years, will enhance the country’s preparedness for viral diseases.
Dr Anthony emphasised that, the approach is not limited to a single disease but aims to bolster systems for detecting and addressing any viruses that may jump from animal populations to humans.
“This would help us to enhance the system so that if there’s anything in the animal population that jumps into the human population, we’ll be able to detect it and have a stronger approach to viruses in the human population,” he explained.
Last year, the Ministry worked closely with Pan American Health Organisation and the World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) to establish eight sites across Guyana to monitor influenza viruses. For the first time, Guyana was able to identify the types of influenza viruses circulating within the country, marking a significant milestone in viral disease management.
The HMPV is a respiratory disease that causes flu or cold-like symptoms, but can increase risks or lead to more serious complications like bronchitis or pneumonia, particularly among the elderly, young children, and the immunocompromised.