HMPV in Malaysia: A surge in the number of cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is seen in Malaysia, after it was reported in China, this year. A 45% increase from last year has been seen as per the government reports. The world is now closely looking at the HMPV and accounting for its cases after China reported a sharp surge in respiratory illness over the last few weeks.

As per the Strait Times, the Malaysian health ministry urged its people to remain vigilant. The advisory also asked public to be prepared for an increase in respiratory tract infection as it will continue to increase due to extreme weather conditions. As of now, Malaysia witnessed 327 new HMPV cases in 2024, up from 225 cases reported in 2023.

Read for HMPV Virus Symptoms, Causes , Treatment and Prevention

Safety Measures

If reports were to be believed, the best way to prevent the virus from spreading is through hygienic sanitary practices. This includes washing hands with soap, wearing a face mask and covering your nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing. These are similar safety measures which were also implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. As per experts, this spike in the beginning and end of the year during extreme winters is expected.

What is happening in China?

It has been fiver years since COVID-19 outbreak was reported, and now China is making the headlines due to the outbreak of yet another respiratory illness. As per sources, HMPV infection is growing at an exponential rate and as a result, there has been a burden on health facilities and crematories.

The Chinese health authorities have implemented a pilot system to combat this upsurge. This involves tracking cases of pneumonia with unknown origins. These efforts are launched by China's disease control agency to increase preparedness for respiratory outbreaks during the winter months.

Who are at most risk?

The virus has affected vulnerable populations, including children whose immune systems are still not fully developed, and elderly persons who already have a pre-existing respiratory diseases.

What are the common symptoms?

The symptoms are flu-like, they include:

• Fever
• Coughing
• Nasal congestion
• Runny Nose
• Sore Throat
• Nausea and vomiting

In some severe cases, a person may have bronchitis or pneumonia and also increase the risk of asthma or COPD.

Is it contagious?

Like any other respiratory diseases, this too can be spread through contaminated respiratory droplets from infected person to a healthy person. It could spread through sneezing, coughing or through aerosolized microorganism through touching.

Origin

As per the 2022 study titled Zoonotic Origins of Human Metapneumovirus: A Journey from Birds to Humans, the metapneumovirus are member of the family Pneumoviridae and have been identified earlier in birds, also known as the avian metapneumoviruses (AMPV). This is why HMPV and AMPV are closely related.

HMPV was first discovered in 2001, however, studies show that it has been circulating for at least 50 years.

The novel pneumovirus first identified in South African turkey farm was identified soon in farms throughout Western Europe, Asia, and South America. However, it took 23 years after the discovery of AMPV for HMPV to be discovered. In 2001, a Dutch group performed virus isolations from clinical samples from 28 epidemiologically unrelated children. They all shared common characteristics of suffering from respiratory tract infection and RSV. The study revealed that they were infected by HMPV infection and the same study revealed that this virus has been circulating since last 50 years.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially declared a new Ebola outbreak in its Kasai Province. The virus responsible is the highly dangerous Zaire strain. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the "virus is believed to have jumped from an animal to a human". The first known case was a 34-year-old pregnant woman who died on August 25, reports WHO. Two healthcare workers who cared for her also became infected and passed away. As of September 15 WHO has confirmed a total of 81 cases and 28 deaths, including four healthcare workers.

How Fatal Is Zaire Strain of Ebola?

According to 1983 The Journal of Infectious Diseases study, this strain of Ebola is different and far more deadly than the Sudan strain which caused an outbreak in Uganda as recently as January 2025.

• In the study, the Zaire strain killed 90% of those infected.
• The Sudan strain was also very dangerous, but less so, killing between 55% and 65% of people.

Also Read: India Sees Rising Death Risk From Chronic Diseases While Other Countries Report Decline, Finds Lancet Study

How Ebola Spreads and Its Symptoms

The WHO explains that the Ebola was first discovered in 1976. Scientists believe it originally comes from fruit bats. From there, it can spread to humans who come into contact with other infected animals, like monkeys. Once a person is infected, the virus spreads to others mainly through direct contact with their blood or other body fluids and is a deadly zoonotic disease (World Organization for Animal Health)

Symptoms can show up anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure and often start very suddenly. Early signs include a high fever, extreme tiredness, and muscle pain. As the disease gets worse, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and internal or external bleeding. Without fast medical care, the death rate can be as high as 50% to 90%. Ebola can spread quickly in crowded places like hospitals and during funerals, where people might touch the body of someone who died from the virus.

Can Ebola Be Cured?

While there isn't a single cure, there are effective treatments. The Ervebo vaccine is a powerful tool being used to contain the current outbreak. This vaccine is highly effective against the Zaire strain of Ebola—the one in this outbreak—and has a 100% success rate when given right after someone has been exposed.

Also Read: Weatherman Geoff Fox Announces To Enter Hospice Care For The Recurrent Cancer Treatment

Why Is This Ebola Outbreak A Cause of Concern

The Ebola virus has caused a big wave of concern in the country. The DRC is already dealing with other major health crises, like mpox, cholera, and measles, which are stretching its limited resources. The country is also facing armed conflict, making it hard to get medical supplies and staff to remote communities.

Even though the affected area, Kasai Province, is somewhat isolated, it's close to a major city and the border of Angola. This raises the risk that the virus could spread to new areas as people travel for work and trade.

To stop the spread, health officials are using a strategy called "ring vaccination." This means they're vaccinating not only people who are infected but also everyone they've been in contact with, as well as frontline healthcare workers. Other key actions include quickly separating sick people from healthy ones and tracing their contacts. The WHO and its partners have sent 48 experts to the region and provided special medication called Mab114 to treat patients. They are also helping neighboring countries prepare in case the virus crosses borders.

How Was Early Detection Possible For Ebola?

Modern technology is helping to spot outbreaks faster than ever before. An AI platform called EPIWATCH noticed a sharp increase in reports of illness in the DRC in early September, even before the outbreak was officially confirmed. This early warning can give authorities a crucial head start in their response, especially in areas with limited medical testing.

The WHO believes that if the outbreak is contained quickly, its impact will likely stay local. The risk is currently assessed as high for the DRC, moderate for the surrounding region, and low globally.

A new Washington Post–KFF poll has found that one in six U.S. parents have skipped or delayed routine childhood vaccinations, not including flu or coronavirus shots, for their children. While the vast majority of parents continue to follow recommended schedules, the survey highlights a concerning rise in vaccine hesitancy driven largely by distrust in government institutions and concerns about safety.

According to the poll, conducted between July 18 and August 4, 2025, among 2,716 U.S. parents and guardians, 16 percent reported delaying or skipping at least one vaccine for their child. Even more troubling, 9 percent admitted skipping highly critical immunizations such as the polio or measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines.

Public health experts warn that skipping such vaccines risks large-scale outbreaks of diseases once thought to be under control.

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“This survey gives us the clearest picture yet of what is fueling hesitation,” said Liz Hamel, KFF’s vice president and director of public opinion and survey research, as reported by the Washington Post. “We still have strong support for vaccines among parents in this country, but we’re also seeing cracks in confidence, especially among younger parents. The big question is whether those cracks will deepen.”

Who Is Skipping Shots?

The Post–KFF poll shows that vaccine avoidance is not evenly distributed. Instead, it is tied to specific demographics, political beliefs, and educational practices.

• Home-schooling families were the most likely to skip or delay shots, with 46 percent reporting they had done so.
• White, very religious parents had particularly high rates, with 36 percent reporting skipped or delayed vaccines, and 23 percent specifically skipping MMR or polio vaccines.
• Republican parents were also more likely to resist vaccines: 22 percent delayed or skipped a vaccine, compared with only 8 percent of Democrats.
• Age also played a role, with 19 percent of parents under 35 reporting skipped vaccines, compared with 12 percent of parents over 50.
• Democrats and Asian parents were among the least likely to delay or skip vaccines, with only 8 percent and 5 percent doing so, respectively.

Why Parents Say No

The reasons parents gave for vaccine hesitancy overwhelmingly related to safety fears and mistrust, rather than access or cost.

• 67 percent of hesitant parents cited concerns about side effects.
• 53 percent said they don’t believe vaccines are entirely safe.
• 51 percent questioned whether all recommended vaccines were even necessary.
• A smaller number, 42 percent, resisted because they didn’t want multiple shots given in one visit.
• By comparison, logistical barriers such as cost (5 percent), lack of time (9 percent), or difficulty scheduling appointments (9 percent) were rarely mentioned.

As one Arizona mother, Anna Hulkow, told The Post: “I don’t think my kids are worse off to get [chicken pox] firsthand.” Hulkow, who moved her family in part because of stricter school vaccine requirements in California, said she distrusts what she views as a profit-driven health care system.

Distrust of Federal Health Agencies

The survey underscores a sharp erosion of trust in federal institutions charged with vaccine safety. Just 49 percent of parents said they have confidence in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure vaccine safety and effectiveness, while 51 percent expressed doubt.

Confidence was highly polarized along party lines:

• 60 percent of Democrats said they trust the agencies.
• 48 percent of independents expressed confidence.
• Only 41 percent of Republicans said the same.

This skepticism has grown since the coronavirus pandemic, which politicized public health guidance and created space for misinformation to spread widely online.

The Influence of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The appointment of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of vaccines, has intensified debates. While Kennedy’s claims linking vaccines to autism have been repeatedly debunked by dozens of studies, the Post–KFF poll found that at least four in ten parents say they don’t know whether such claims are true or false.

Even without firm belief in Kennedy’s most controversial assertions, many parents expressed trust in his broader critique of federal vaccine policy. Among Republicans, 54 percent said they trusted Kennedy to provide reliable information about vaccines. Among parents overall, 36 percent expressed similar trust.

One Las Vegas mother, Imani Schaade, told The Post she believes vaccines contributed to her daughters’ autism and allergic reactions. While she ultimately vaccinated her son for school entry, she said Kennedy “created a wave of people coming out and being able to speak out about [vaccines], and people have an opinion.”

The “Mushy Middle”

While a small percentage of parents identify as explicitly anti-vaccine (6 percent), nearly half fall into what The Post calls a “mushy middle”, parents who vaccinate but express skepticism. These parents may agree to vaccines like MMR and polio but express doubt about flu or COVID-19 shots, or delay doses because they are wary of multiple shots in a single appointment.

In fact, 52 percent of parents did not vaccinate their children against the flu last year, even though flu shots have been widely recommended since 2010. And only 13 percent of eligible children received last year’s coronavirus vaccine, according to federal estimates.

Also Read: Unique Symptoms Of Flu In 2025 And How Long The Infection Lasts

What Public Health Experts Say

Public health organizations, including the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), continue to stress that recommended childhood vaccines are safe, effective, and extensively tested before approval.

“Delaying or spreading out vaccine doses leaves your child unprotected during the time when they need vaccine protection the most,” the CDC warns.

The AAP has also emphasized that natural infection, such as allowing children to contract chicken pox, carries risks far more serious than those posed by vaccines. Before the chicken pox vaccine was introduced, the disease killed between 100 and 150 Americans annually and hospitalized thousands more.

The Political Tension

While vaccine hesitancy is more common among Republicans, the poll found 77 percent of Republican parents still follow vaccine recommendations, including 84 percent who vaccinate against measles and polio.

That strong baseline of support has made vaccine mandates politically sensitive. A conservative polling firm recently warned GOP lawmakers that aggressively rolling back school vaccine requirements could be politically damaging, given that most Trump voters still believe vaccines save lives.

The Post–KFF poll found that 81 percent of all parents believe public schools should require measles and polio vaccines, with exceptions only for medical or religious reasons.

Parents Who Still Believe

Some parents told The Post they felt increasingly isolated in their communities for supporting vaccines.

Elizabeth Stratford, a retired ICU nurse and Republican mother of six in Utah, described her frustration:

“I’ve taken care of people with polio and with rubella and with measles in my 35 years of nursing, and I don’t know why anybody would ever want those diseases,” Stratford said. “If people knew what these diseases were about, they would probably be more responsible.”

What Comes Next

The Washington Post–KFF poll paints a mixed picture: strong support for foundational vaccines like MMR and polio, but waning trust overall, especially around flu and COVID-19 shots. Younger parents, white religious conservatives, and home-schooling families are leading the resistance.

Public health experts fear that if vaccine skepticism continues to spread, and if federal leadership amplifies misinformation, the United States could see the return of once-eradicated diseases.

But for now, most parents are still vaccinating, even if they have questions. The challenge for policymakers and health professionals will be to rebuild trust, counter misinformation, and remind parents of what’s at stake.

The longtime Connecticut TV weather reporter Geoff Fox on Saturday announced that he would be entering hospice care as part of his ongoing cancer battle. He has spent nearly three decades at WTNH News8. Everyone's favorite weatherman, wrote on Facebook thar he was dealing with "cancerous growths" on his liver, lungs, and pancreas. He also wrote that he opted for hospice care because he was too weak for chemotherapy after previous bouts of cancer.

Now 75, he wrote, "With hospice I’m given the opportunity to stay just drugged enough to avoid the worst. And a guarantee I can die at home." He also noted that currently he had no symptoms or experiencing any pain from cancer.

"So, I've chosen how to die - out of pain. At the moment nothing is necessary. I feel fine," he wrote.

Also Read: Dan Marino Shares What Helped Him Treat His Liver Disease, Details Inside

Fox's Cancer Diagnosis

It was in 2016, when his first diagnosis and update on cancer came in. It was pancreatic cancer. For that, he underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation before being declared in remission. Earlier this year too, he had another surgery on his vocal chords after a cancerous mass was found on his clavicle.

Cancer Recurrence

Cancer recurrence happens when cancer comes back after treatment. It could be because treatment missed cancerous cells or because the treatment did not affect some cells. Cleveland Clinic notes that while remission means you don't have cancer symptoms and tests don't find signs of cancer, it can come back after being in remission.

There are different types of cancer recurrence, based on its location.

• Local Recurrence: The same kind of cancer has come back to same place as the original cancer.
• Regional Recurrence: The cancer returns to lymph nodes or tissues near the original cancer.
• Distant Recurrence: The same cancer from the original tumor has spread to organs or tissues located far from the original tumor.

Cancer recurrence is a foremost concern of patients and their caregivers. The 2018 study titled Fear of Cancer Recurrence: A Practical Guide for Clinicians note that the fear of recurrence can negatively affect quality of life, and approximately 7% of patients develop severe disabling fear that includes constant intrusive thoughts and misinterpretation of mild or unrelated symptoms.

Another 2018 study, Central Nervous System Cancers, published in the Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology notes that some cancers are difficult to treat and may have a high rate of recurrence. Glioblastoma, which is the most aggressive and common type of primary brain cancer, recurs in nearly all patients, despite treatment.

A 2017 study titled Preoperative predictors for early recurrence of resectable pancreatic cancer, and a 2012 study titled Early recurrence of pancreatic cancer after resection and during adjuvant chemotherapy, note that pancreatic cancer has a 36% chance of recurrence within 1 year of curative surgery, 38% chance of local recurrence after adjuvant chemotherapy, and 46% distant metastasis after adjuvant chemotherapy.