7 Ways to Prevent HMPV in Elderly Individuals

The Human Metapneumovirus has symptoms similar to a common cold, yet babies and the elderly are severely affected and can fall really badly sick. While this virus has not spread like wildfire like COVID-19 has, we still have to be very, very careful because oversight has come back to bite us way too many times.

This virus can affect the elderly in a number of ways. It can be fatal - or cause an increased risk of bronchiolitis, bronchitis or pneumonia - reinfection with HPMV can result in a significant amount of illness in the elderly, especially those who are institutionalised. Also, 40% of elderly patients who are infected with HMPV develop pneumonitis. So, how do you prevent HMPV in the elderly?

1. Keep Your Hands Clean

When it comes to elderly HMPV prevention tips, this is a non-negotiable. Under no circumstances should your hands be soiled or covered in droplets of mucus. You have to make sure that your hands are clean under all circumstances.

Especially if you have just sneezed or coughed, please take the trouble to take a minute to wash your hands. Who knows - you might spread this virus to others. Washing your hands and keeping them clean will ensure that you do not spread the virus or contract it from anyone else. For hygiene practices to prevent HMPV, wash your hands.

2. Don’t Sneeze or Cough in the Open

Sneezing and coughing cannot be helped. You cannot stop sneezing just because you want to. What you can do is don’t sneeze or cough in the open. Ensure that you cover your hand with your mouth when you sneeze or cough.

This will prevent droplets of the virus from spreading to others. Sneezing or coughing without covering your mouth is considered bad manners, so don’t do it, and you’ll be fine.

3. Avoid Coming Into Contact With Others

If you want to be safe from HMPV, ensure that you don’t come into contact with others who have the virus. Since this virus spreads fast and spreads by touch, make sure you are miles away from anything contaminated.

Avoiding contact with infected individuals will ensure that you remain safe from HMPV. Even if your immune system is strong, don’t come into contact with anyone suffering from HMPV.

4. Wear a Mask

If you want to remain safeguarded from HMPV, wear a mask. And not any run-of-the-mill mask. Ensure that it is a mask that safeguards you from HMPV. The standard N-95 mask should do.

Make sure you mask up in crowded places or if you are around anyone who has HMPV. Since this respiratory illness spreads through contact, a mask will ensure that you are safeguarded against HMPV.

5. Isolate Yourself When You Fall Sick

By any chance, if you show any symptoms of this virus, isolate yourself when you fall sick so that you don’t spread this virus to others. Since this virus spreads by touching, make sure that you don’t come into contact with anyone who is sick, and if you yourself are sick, ensure that you stay in isolation and don’t infect anyone else. If you notice any HMPV symptoms in the elderly, isolate them immediately.

6. Strengthen Your Immune System

Stock up on fruits and vegetables and strengthen your immune system so you don’t get infected by the HMPV virus. A strong immune system will ensure you are safeguarded from the virus, so eat all those greens your mother tells you to eat so your immune system remains in top shape.

If your immune system is strong, you will remain safe from HMPV, COVID-19 and a host of other infections as well. For nutrition to boost immunity in the elderly, please ensure you follow a balanced diet.

7. Get Vaccinated

Stay up-to-date with your vaccinations, especially for common infections like COVID-19, influenza and RSV, so you are safeguarded against infection. Since HMPV doesn’t have its vaccine, make sure you are inoculated against comorbidities so you don’t fall sick. Since there’s no separate HMPV vaccine for seniors, ensure you are inoculated against other ailments.

8. Exercise

If you can, do some basic workouts so your body and immune system become strong and you don’t fall prey to HMPV. Nothing fancy, just some basic body movements so your body is strong and is safeguarded from infections like HMPV. When it comes to protecting seniors from HMPV, this is an important point.

Well, that does it. If you are an elderly person, you are at much higher risk of getting the HMPV virus than your regular middle-aged individual. Ensure you wash your hands, stay vaccinated, strengthen your immune system, avoid touching others, keep your hands clean, cover your mouth when you sneeze and avoid coming into contact with others. That itself should safeguard you against HMPV.