HMPV Virus Commotion, Consuming Propolis Can Help Body’s Immune System

Early 2025 was marked by the commotion of the HMPV (Human Metapneumovirus) virus outbreak that hit mainland China. It was so serious that the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes RI) warned the public to be aware of the spread of the HMPV virus which was stated to have occurred in Indonesia.

According to the Minister of Health, Budi Sadikin, HMPV has long been found in Indonesia, including data showing that several children have been infected with HMPV. He appealed to the public to maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as getting enough rest, washing hands regularly, wearing a mask when feeling unwell, and immediately consulting a medical professional if suspicious symptoms appear.

According to alternative health and holistic healing expert and practitioner, Dr. Agus Tjandra, Human Metapneumovirus is actually not a new virus. “This virus, which is classified into the Pneumoviridae family, appeared 24 years ago, to be precise in 2001,” said the man who is the Chief Executive Officer at PT Meta Biolife Indonesia, the producer of the Meta Propolis brand, quoted Thursday (16/1/2025).

As a characteristic of a virus, Agus continued, it needs to infect living cells from the host it will infect in order to replicate. This means that a viral infection occurs when the virus uses the body cells of an infected person to make more copies of its own body (virus).

The man who is a guest lecturer and examiner of the doctoral program in management research at Bina Nusantara University agrees with the appeal of the Indonesian Minister of Health for the public to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “Ensuring that the immune system remains strong is the main thing to prevent disease infection into our bodies,” said the author of the book “Challenge Your Self” in 2022.

HMPV, Agus Tjandra explained, is not a deadly virus. With characteristics and symptoms similar to the common flu such as coughing, fever, runny nose, and shortness of breath, usually most people who are infected will recover on their own without requiring special treatment.

What can be done to maintain body health or speed up recovery, explained Agus Tjandra, is to consume natural health products, for example propolis. Propolis is a natural nutrient from resin sap from plants that is collected by bees to be mixed with their saliva. Bees use this sap to patch and sterilize their nests.

Propolis has long been known as a good ingredient for health because it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer properties. In addition, propolis also contains various vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids that are beneficial for the human body.

However, consumers are advised not to simply consume it without checking the quality of the propolis they choose.

“Good propolis is one that has high levels of antioxidants, both Flavonoid and Polyphenol compounds, which play a role in suppressing and stabilizing free radicals in the body,” said Agus. Propolis must also have a high content of bioactive/active substances such as Galangin and Quecertin-3. For example, a laboratory examination of the Meta Propolis product produced by Meta Biolife Indonesia showed that it contained 45 bioactive substances and higher levels of antioxidants than similar products on the market.

In terms of appearance, quality propolis generally has a thicker, more concentrated, and more bitter texture, which indicates its level of purity. And no less important, natural health products should have received BPOM certificates, halal certificates, and CPOTB (Good Traditional Medicine Manufacturing Methods).

“Meta Propolis is the only product in Indonesia that has received a certificate from the United States Food and Drug Administration, FDA (Food and Drug Administration),” concluded Agus Tjandra.

Source: Geger Virus HMPV, Konsumsi Propolis Dapat Membantu Daya Tahan Tubuh