Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Thursday (9/1/2025) that there are no special directives or preparations for health centers and hospitals to handle Human metapneumovirus (HMPV). 

He emphasized, however, that any detected cases should be reported.

“This is just like the common flu. The important thing is to report it if detected. Some laboratories can conduct virus panel tests for this,” Minister Budi said, as reported by antaranews.com.

HMPV, first identified in 2001, has a low fatality rate and typically resolves like a standard flu. 

“The fatality rate is very low, much lower than COVID-19. Based on available data, all infected children in Indonesia have recovered and returned home safely,” he asserted..

The minister added that since HMPV is an older virus, the human body is better equipped to handle it, unlike the novel COVID-19, which posed initial challenges for the immune system.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)