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In recent days, the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection has risen dramatically in northern Chinese provinces, primarily among children.

The virus, which is responsible for crowded hospital waiting rooms in China and looking eeriely similar to Covid’s early days, has experienced a “significant increase” in recent weeks, slightly higher than it did last year.

A sore throat, a cough, a runny nose, or a nasal congestion are typical symptoms of HMPV, which usually goes away after about five days, and a fever that usually goes away after five days.

But more severe symptoms such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia can occur, with sufferers experiencing shortness of breath, severe cough or wheezing.

Experts advised to be wary of flu-like symptoms because they might be a sign of HMPV.

Professor John Tregoning, an expert in vaccine immunology at Imperial College London, told MailOnline that it has very similar symptoms – in children at least – to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.

‘ It is part of the cocktail of winter viruses that we are exposed to and, like other viruses, it will transmit in coughs, sneezes and in droplets.

‘ Protecting yourself by being in well-ventilated spaces, covering your mouth when you cough and washing your hands will all help, ‘ said Professor Tregoning

Similar to the advice related to Covid and RSV, those infected must ‘ rest, stay hydrated and try not to spread it to others’, he added.

READ ALSO: HMPV: FG Closely Monitoring Situation, Nigeria At ‘ Moderate ‘ Risk, Says NCDC

‘ If you&nbsp, do feel very unwell, go to your GP. As it is a virus, antibiotics won’t have any effect. ‘

Contrary to Covid, HMPV has no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment, and treatment primarily involves managing symptoms.

We need to take a cautious and measured approach, according to Jaya Dantas, an Australian professor of international health at Curtin University.

‘ We need to get tested, stay home and away from others, wear a mask in public and protect our most vulnerable.

‘ In young children, the elderly and those who are immune compromised, HMPV can lead to severe cases and can move to the lower respiratory tract and may lead to pneumonia. ‘

Other experts, however, cautioned that the rise in cases ‘ is not something that should cause undue concern’.

Professor Jonathan Ball, a virologist at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, added: ‘ HPMV has been known about since 2001, and has been circulating in humans for at least 50 years – probably a lot longer.

‘ Unfortunately, it is associated with pneumonia, particularly in young children, but this is thankfully rare. ‘

By the fifth birthday, almost every child will have at least one HMPV infection, according to Professor Paul Hunter, an expert on infectious diseases at the University of East Anglia.

One of the main viral causes of respiratory infections in children under five years old is “it.”

‘ In England, we have seen a fairly marked increase in recent weeks. ‘

However, he added: ‘ One of the issues involved in these types of infection is that they are being diagnosed more frequently, so it is not always easy to know whether, year-on-year, increases are due to actual increases or just because we are diagnosing a greater proportion of infections. ‘

Health&nbsp, officials in Beijing have downplayed the developments as an annual winter occurrence.

However, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China&nbsp, and other organizations have warned that the prevalence of multiple flu-like illnesses is rising.

Data from its most recent report, which included the week of December 29, indicated that 7.2% of outpatient hospital visits in northern provinces were the result of a flu-like condition.

This increase was 14% higher than the previous week’s level, which is above the same week’s level since 2021 for all flu seasons.

According to research in the southern region of the nation, 5.7% of outpatient visits were caused by a flu-like illness.

This was up 21% over the previous week and above the same week in 2021, when 4.1% of visits were caused by a flu-like illness.

It was, however, below the levels in 2022 and 2023.

The UK is currently experiencing a tidal wave of flu. According to surveillance programs that track the outbreak in England, flu hospital admissions are now four times higher than they were a month ago.

More than 4,500 beds in one day, or 3.5%, were used by flu patients last week, according to statistics.

Of these, 211 were in critical care – up 69 per cent on the previous week.

World leaders gathered for a ceremony at which John Mahama took the oath of office as Ghana’s new president.

On Tuesday, Mahama was sworn in at Accra’s Independence Square.

Nana Akufo-Ado, who succeeded him in 2017, was replaced by the new president. Before Mahama’s swearing-in, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang was inaugurated as the country’s first female vice president.

The ceremony featured the swearing of office by Ghana’s Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo.

Mahama resigned from his position seven years ago with a mission to revive Ghana’s struggling economy after winning the election held in December.

READ ALSO: Ghana’s Ruling Party Candidate Bawumia Concedes Defeat In Election

Mahamudu Bawumia, the ruling party’s former leader, defeated the candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with a 50% of the vote. &nbsp,

He scored 6.3 million votes to beat Bawumia with a 1.7 million vote margin. Bawumia of the&nbsp, New Patriotic Party (NPP) had immediately conceded defeat in the election.

“The people of Ghana have spoken, the people have voted for change at this time and we respect it with all humility”, he said in a press conference.

On his X account, Mahama confirmed he had received Bawumia’s congratulatory call.

A police officer was fired from the Abia State Police Command because of his incivil behavior and incivility toward public figures.

The command’s spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the demotion in a statement on Tuesday.

The spokesperson claimed that the decision came after an administrative proceeding where he was tried in a calm room and found guilty of incivilly and disgraceful conduct.

READ ALSO:  Police Are Arrested Woman For allegedly killing her 10-month-old child.

“The Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, CP Danladi Isa, in alignment with the vision of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to establish a professionally competent, service-driven, rule-of-law-compliant, and people-friendly police force, has disbanded the Command’s Anti-Cultism Unit for Unprofessional conduct and incivility towards members of the public,” the statement read.

“Additionally, F/No: 527324 Corporal Okonkwo Ebuka, attached to Area Command, Aba, but on special duty at Isuochi was demoted from Corporal to Constable.

According to an eyewitness account of the explosion that occurred at the Islamic school in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), one of the students brought the bomb there on Monday.

The blast at the Sani Uthman Islamiyya School, &nbsp, Kuchibuyi Village, Bwari area council had claimed two lives and injured two persons.

The school, which we visited on Tuesday, is a three-classroom block designed for nomadic education (Almajiri school).

Findings revealed that the student who brought the explosive to school entered Katsina State the day before the tragic incident.

According to the eyewitness, the explosive detonated when the student from Katsina was showing the object to another student.

The boy who was holding the explosive died instantly, while the second boy died later at the hospital.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Aftermath Of Explosion In Islamiyya School, FCT

A young girl is receiving treatment at the Kubwa General Hospital, and a boy has been referred to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital are among the survivors who were identified in the incident.

On Tuesday, obscene images of the incident emerged that showed the aftermath of the school explosion.

The FCT police have since sealed the school’s premises.

Contrary to eyewitness accounts, the FCT Police Spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, claimed in a statement on Monday that three men had entered the building with the explosives and that this was done on Monday.

Adeh had said a team of police operatives, including the Command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was mobilised to the scene after the incident.

She continued, “The area was cordoned off right away to safeguard residents and facilitate a thorough investigation.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that Mallam Adamu Ashimu, the owner of the Islamic school, was visited by three men from Katsina.

The three visitors are suspected of bringing the explosives with them.

Tragically, two of the men died in the explosion on the Veranda school while tampering with an IED, and a third man and a female trader suffered severe injuries and are currently receiving treatment from police guard.

“The FCT Bomb Squad has confirmed that it was an IED explosion, as remnants of the device have been recovered”.

The school owner has been in the custody for questioning, according to the police spokesperson, and additional information will be made available as needed.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says the country is at “moderate” risk for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV).  

The Federal Government is closely monitoring the spread of the virus, according to a public health advisory from the government. It is also taking safety measures to improve the nation’s readiness and response capabilities.  

The NCDC claimed to have collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners to conduct a risk assessment for the HMPV. S. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the USCDC are both accredited by the USCDC.  

According to the evaluation, Nigeria’s risk of HMPV was moderate. This evaluation will inform and guide preparedness efforts, decision-making, and response strategies to mitigate potential impacts,” the advisory issued late Monday said.

According to the statement, the NCDC is assisting Nigerians in receiving timely, reliable information and guidance to keep the country’s citizens informed and prepared.  

In response to the dynamic risk assessment for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), NCDC stated that it “is working with Port Health Authorities to ensure robust preparedness at all international POEs.”  

These measures are intended to reduce the possibility of HMPV transmission while traveling abroad. ”

READ ALSO: Bird Flu Outbreaks Strike Japan Farms

No Such Declaration

In order to assess current readiness levels, the agency listed some of its key initiatives in terms of readiness for the potential risk of HMPV, as well as a thorough analysis of the situation at all international points of entry (PoE).

HMPV has been labeled a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by some organizations, but the organization claimed it was “false and should be disregarded.”

“The WHO has not made such a declaration. Recent reports indicate a significant rise in human microbial pneumonia (HMPV) cases in China, as well as a rise in respiratory infections in nations like Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, particularly during the winter, according to the advisory’s part.

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s staff members, who were fired from their jobs as a result of a widespread layoff last year, have dragged the organization to the Abuja National Industrial Court.

In an originating summons, filed on July 4, 2024, under the NICN Civil Procedure Rules 2017, the aggrieved staff members raised several questions for determination.

The former CBN employees are suing the court to find out whether they were denied their constitutional right to a fair hearing when they claimed that the CBN had violated internal laws, Nigerian labor laws, and their contractual rights.

The claimants, Stephen Gana, Kabiru Idris, Benedict Agbo, Peter Adeyemi, John Yisa, Eleanor Ihua, Stephen Ambore, Edom Obi, Dabo Chundung, Ekpe-Oko Roupa, Alabi Mubarak, Isa Yusuf, Quadru Ralph, Olasupo Adedokun, Dauda Yusuf, Ogidi Tolu, Levi David, Umar Kurba, Christopher Alfred, Gana Nma, Tanko Joel, Iyare Christian, Paul Iza, Alzebeokhai Esiemokhai, Pius Odunze, Isiuwe Uwadiahu, Vivienne Usoro, Imoh Francis, Ofili Lydia, Onunkwor Christopher, Adeshina Nurudeen, Bukar Ahmed and Ajayi Omosolape.

All 33 of them, represented by Okwudili Abanum, in a class action lawsuit, argued that the termination process, carried out through letters, titled, ‘ Reorganizational and Human Capital Restructuring’, dated April 5, 2024, violated both the CBN human resources policies and procedures manual and Section 36 of the Nigerian constitution.

adding that the procedure lacked the required free consultation and hearing.

They also stated that the termination letters, issued based on restructuring, were arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional.

The claimants also requested a ruling invalidating their dismissal.

Additionally, the claimants requested a restraining order to stop the CBN from firing them without complying with the law.

Additionally, they requested that their immediate reinstatement, as well as payment of salaries and benefits, be done without delay.

The lawsuit made reference to HRPPM Article 16.4.1, which mandates joint consultative council consultation and adherence to fair procedures before employment decisions adversely affect staff.

Given only three days to leave their positions and turn over official property, the claimants pointed out that the provision was flagrantly disregarded.

They also sought N30 billion in general damages for psychological distress, hardship, and reputational harm caused by the dismissal, and an additional N500 million as the cost of the suit.

READ ALSO: Senate To Begin ₦49.7tn Budget Defence, Sets Jan 31 For Passage

The court urged the parties involved in the dispute to seek an amicable settlement in another document from November 20, 2024, during the initial mention of the lawsuit.

The presiding judge, Justice O. A. Osaghae said “This is a new matter, it is mentioned for the 1st time. I’ve looked at the procedures, and I think parties should try to resolve this conflict in a friendly manner. Consequential, parties are encouraged pursuant to section 20 of the NICA 2006, to attempt amicable settlement”.

Meanwhile, the CBN represented by a team of attorneys led by Inam Wilson made a court appearance and that he had received a counterclaim request from the claimants that had been served with.

Justice Osaghae, following the defendant’s counsel submission, adjourned to January 29, 2025, for a hearing of the preliminary Objection.

Remember that the apex bank abruptly terminated about a thousand staff positions between March and May of the aforementioned year in four batches.

Some laid-off employees claimed they were paid as little as N5,000 per month for severance, but others claimed that all outstanding loans were completely repaid.

The affected staff claimed that the process was in violation of the CBN Act, which requires board approval for significant employment decisions, despite the fact that the layoff was officially attributable to reorganization and human capital restructuring.