Kazakhstan: Government Issues Statement on Metapneumovirus

Journalists asked the Minister of Education, Gani Beisembayev, whether any restrictions are expected in schools due to the metapneumovirus (HMPV) circulating in Kazakhstan, Orda.kz reports.

At a government press conference, he replied that no information about the need for restrictions had been released. However, he emphasized that the Ministry of Health would make the final decision.

Deputy Prime Minister Tamara Duisenova added that the department recently contacted the WHO.

The response wasn't just for us, but for other countries as well. The WHO said there's no need to panic, as this virus has been around for decades — preventive measures need to be taken. Overall, it's a common situation that we need to get through together,Tamara Duisenova said. 

Metapneumovirus is an acute respiratory viral infection.

Strains of the virus were found in Kazakhstan during the seasonal rise in respiratory diseases and flu cases.

According to the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control, 8,360 samples have been tested for non-influenza viruses in the country since the start of the epidemic season.

Of the 1,866 positive HMPV samples, only 30 cases have been confirmed.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova