The European Union is monitoring cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) amid an outbreak of the disease in China.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said cases across Europe were not unusual for this time of year, but would continue to assess the situation.
“ECDC continues to monitor the situation in collaboration with the Chinese CDC and WHO/EURO to gather additional information,” it said.
The virus, which causes flu or cold-like symptoms, has seen cases spiking across northern Chinese provinces this winter, particularly among children.
Photos and videos of people wearing masks in hospitals in China emerged on social media platforms and local reports compared the scenes to the initial outbreak of Covid.
Meanwhile, Indonesia has started monitoring flights from China and Malaysia amid concern over rising HMPV infections across the region.
Those travelling to Bali will have to fill out a form three days before their arrival to the island providing a record of passengers’ health, according to local health authorities.
Key Points
- EU monitoring HMPV cases
- Bali ramps up monitoring of arrivals from China
- Doctors say it is vital for China to share infection data
- India ramps up monitoring as cases rise
- Everything we know about HMPV cases in the UK
Can HMPV virus spread to other countries?
Wednesday 8 January 2025 00:01 , Alexander ButlerHong Kong has reported a few cases of HMPV. Neighbouring countries like Cambodia and Taiwan are keeping a close watch on the situation. Cambodia’s Communicable Disease Control Department has issued warnings about HMPV, noting its similarity to Covid-19 and influenza.
Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control has said the virus’s higher risks for children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.
In neighbouring India, officials said there is no need for panic as HMPV is “like any other respiratory virus”.
“There has been news doing the rounds about a metapneumovirus outbreak in China. Let me be very clear on that count. Metapneumovirus is like any other respiratory virus which causes the common cold, and in the very old and the very young it could cause flu-like symptoms,” Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) official Dr Atul Goel said.
How to prevent HMPV transmission
Wednesday 8 January 2025 01:00 , Alexander ButlerHMPV (human metapneumovirus) spreads through direct contact with infected individuals or by touching contaminated surfaces, experts say.
Unlike viruses like flu, RSV, and Covid-19, there is no vaccine for HMPV, Dr Carla Garcia Carreno, director of infection prevention and control at Children’s Medical Center in Plano, Texas says. “We don’t have that advantage of priming or boosting our immune system to fight these viruses. But still, everything else that we learned for Covid can apply to metapneumovirus.”
She told CBS News: “If somebody’s sick, try to avoid crowding so they don’t expose everybody, especially the vulnerable people. If that person is sick and can not avoid going to a place where other people are, then try to use a mask, use cough and sneezing etiquette and good hand washing.”
How was Human metapneumovirus discovered?
Wednesday 8 January 2025 03:00 , Alexander ButlerResearchers in the Netherlands discovered the virus in 2001. Scientists collected 28 samples from children in the Netherlands who had unexplained respiratory illnesses.
No recognised illnesses were detected in their blood, despite the fact that a number of them had severe illnessess and required mechanical breathing.
Before being viewed under an electron microscope, the samples were grown in several cell types from dogs, chickens, and monkeys.
Bali ramps up monitoring of arrivals from China and Malaysia amind HMPV outbreak
Wednesday 8 January 2025 03:02 , Maroosha MuzaffarIn the wake of the rise in HMPV infections in China and Malaysia, authorities in Bali have started monitoring foreign arrivals from these countries.
According to the local health authorities, nationals from China and Malaysia arriving in Bali have to fill out a health pass three days before their arrival to the island to keep a record of passengers’ health issues like body temperature, cold or flu symptoms.
How long has HMPV been circulating?
Wednesday 8 January 2025 03:44 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe virus was first identified in 2001, but researchers believe it has been circulating in humans for at least six decades. Despite its longevity, it lacks the name recognition of influenza, Covid-19, or RSV, according to Dr Leigh Howard, an associate professor of paediatric infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
One reason for its obscurity is that it is rarely referred to by name, except in cases where individuals are hospitalised with a confirmed infection, Dr Howard told The New York Times.
“The clinical features are really difficult to distinguish from other viral illnesses, and we don’t routinely test for HMPV the way we do for Covid, flu or RSV,” Dr Howard said.
“So most infections go unrecognised and are chalked up to whatever respiratory thing is going around.”
How HMPV is treated
Wednesday 8 January 2025 04:00 , Alexander ButlerLike most common respiratory illnesses, HMPV usually clears up on its own.
Treatment of symptoms is usually in the form of medications to control pain and fever, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol
Patients with more severe wheezing and coughing may require a temporary inhaler, according to the American Lung Association.
Singapore experienced spike in HMPV cases at end of 2024
Wednesday 8 January 2025 04:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarSingapore experienced a rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections at the end of 2024, the ministry of health said, but added that it was consistent with previous year-end trends due to increased social gatherings and holiday travel.
China, India, and Malaysia have also reported spikes in HMPV cases and Bali authorities have ramped up monitoring of Chinese and Malaysian nationals arriving in the city.
Singapore’s ministry of health has advised practising good hygiene, coughing and sneezing etiquette and hand washing practices to mitigate the spread.
Nepal to step up testing for HMPV
Wednesday 8 January 2025 04:49 , Maroosha MuzaffarNepal plans to test respiratory illness patients for HMPV to assess its spread this winter, The Kathmandu Post reported.
While the virus has been detected in the country in the past, officials aim to confirm its presence by testing those with influenza-like symptoms who test negative for influenza.
“Although infection of human metapneumovirus is not new to our country and has been detected several times in the past, we have decided to carry out testing on specimens from patients suffering from influenza-like symptoms who test negative for influenza virus,” Dr Yadu Chandra Ghimire, director of the epidemiology and disease control division.
Dr Ghimire advised against panic, saying: “This virus has been circulating in our communities for years. We usually don’t test unless there is a spike in new cases. We have decided to carry out testing, as the rise in infections in our neighbours have become headline news”.
What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
Wednesday 8 January 2025 05:00 , Alexander Butler
What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
Wednesday 8 January 2025 06:05 , Maroosha MuzaffarChina is experiencing a surge in infections of a respiratory virus, leading to reports of overcrowded hospitals, new monitoring measures and public concerns about an outbreak.
The virus, identified as human metapneumovirus (HMPV), has seen cases spiking across northern Chinese provinces this winter, particularly among children.
The outbreak comes five years after the world was first alerted to the emergence of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China, which later turned into a global pandemic with seven million deaths reported.
Photos and videos of people wearing masks in hospitals in China emerged on social media platforms and local reports compared the scenes to the initial outbreak of Covid.
Health authorities are implementing new measures to monitor and manage the spread of pneumonia cases of unknown origin. Nonetheless, Beijing has downplayed the developments as an annual winter occurrence.
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
Singapore experienced spike in HMPV cases at end of 2024
Wednesday 8 January 2025 06:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarSingapore experienced a rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections at the end of 2024, the ministry of health said, but added that it was consistent with previous year-end trends due to increased social gatherings and holiday travel.
China, India, and Malaysia have also reported spikes in HMPV cases and Bali authorities have ramped up monitoring of Chinese and Malaysian nationals arriving in the city.
Singapore’s ministry of health has advised practising good hygiene, coughing and sneezing etiquette and hand washing practices to mitigate the spread.
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
Wednesday 8 January 2025 07:00 , Alexander ButlerWhat is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
How worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts explain
Wednesday 8 January 2025 07:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarAn increase in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections in China has received widespread media coverage, but leading scientists and public health experts say there isn’t yet a cause for alarm.
Chinese health authorities last month reported a rise in children aged 14 and under testing positive for HMPV as part of a broader update on the respiratory virus season.
Photos and videos posted on social media in recent days show crowded hospitals in China, sparking concerns over the virus spreading to other countries and causing a Covid-like outbreak.
The concerns come just as the world completes five years since the novel coronavirus infection was first reported in China’s Wuhan.
However, experts emphasise that HMPV is neither new nor poses an unusual threat to global health.
How worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts weigh in
Everything we know about HMPV in the UK: Symptoms, case numbers and how to get a test
Wednesday 8 January 2025 08:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarA surge in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China has prompted some alarm and led to fears of a possible worldwide outbreak.
With reports of overcrowding in Chinese hospitals, leaders in the country are attempting to control a new wave of the virus with a spike in cases in northern regions, particularly amongst children.
A surge in cases has also been reported in India, Malaysia and Kazakhstan.
HMPV is a respiratory disease that causes flu or cold-like symptoms. Most cases are mild, but infection can increase health risks - particularly for the elderly, young children and people with a low immune system - and lead to severe complications such as pneumonia.
Everything we know about HMPV in the UK: Symptoms, case numbers and how to get a test
ICYMI: Bali ramps up monitoring of arrivals from China and Malaysia amid HMPV outbreak
Wednesday 8 January 2025 08:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarIndonesian authorities have begun monitoring flights from China and Malaysia due to concerns over the increasing number of HMPV infections.
According to the local health authorities, nationals from China and Malaysia arriving in Bali have to fill out a health pass three days before their arrival to the island to keep a record of passengers’ health issues like body temperature, cold or flu symptoms.
What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
Wednesday 8 January 2025 09:00 , Alexander ButlerWhat is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
How worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts explain
Wednesday 8 January 2025 09:25 , Alexander ButlerHow worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts weigh in
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
Wednesday 8 January 2025 10:00 , Alexander ButlerWhat is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
Pictured: Outbreak in China
Wednesday 8 January 2025 10:44 , Alexander Butler
US monitoring cases
Wednesday 8 January 2025 11:20 , Alexander ButlerThe US is monitoring cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections after a reported surge in cases across China.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was currently looking at reports of increasing cases in the US but played down any concern.
It comes as Indonesia has started monitoring flights from China and Malaysia amid concern over rising HMPV infections across the region.
Everything we know about HMPV in the UK: Symptoms, case numbers and how to get a test
Wednesday 8 January 2025 12:51 , Alexander ButlerEverything we know about HMPV in the UK: Symptoms, case numbers and how to get a test
How worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts explain
Wednesday 8 January 2025 13:30 , Alexander ButlerHow worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts weigh in
Pictured: Public health in India
Wednesday 8 January 2025 14:51 , Alexander Butler
Chinese authorities monitoring HMPV outbreak
Wednesday 8 January 2025 16:00 , Alexander ButlerChinese health officials are monitoring an increase in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus that can cause both upper and lower respiratory diseases.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), data from China indicates “a recent rise in acute respiratory infections”. However, the WHO clarified that “the overall scale and intensity of respiratory infectious diseases in China this year are lower than last year”.
Chinese officials have generally played down the outbreak, though state media confirmed cases had been “detected in children in a number of Chinese cities such as Beijing, Southwest China’s Chongqing, and South China’s Guangdong Province”.
Authorities in Beijing have released new guidance for the public “on how to prevent the disease including frequently washing hands and increasing immunity”.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Monday that while the agency is “monitoring reports of increased disease” in China, these reports are “not currently a cause for concern in the US”.
Is there treatment for HMPV?
Wednesday 8 January 2025 17:00 , Alexander ButlerCurrently, there are no antiviral medications specifically for HMPV. Treatment focuses on supportive care to manage moderate or severe symptoms, according to experts.
“If you’re wheezing, we’ll give bronchodilators,” Dr Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, told ABC News, referring to medications that relax and open airways while helping to clear mucus from the lungs.
“If you’re dehydrated, we provide fluids, and we work to reduce the fever.”
Dr Chin-Hong also noted that co-infections, such as bacterial infections, can occur in some cases, which may require antibiotics for treatment.
HMPV mainly affects babies and elderly, says Oxford expert
Wednesday 8 January 2025 18:00 , Alexander ButlerProf Sir Andrew Pollard, an expert on infections and immunity at the University of Oxford, says that HMPV mostly affects babies and the elderly. “In most other age groups it simply causes the symptoms of a cold,” he tells the Science Media Centre.
“Human metapneumovirus virus is a common respiratory virus which was first identified almost a quarter of a century ago by Dutch scientists,” Sir Andrew says.
“It is one of the many viruses which circulate in the winter and add to the winter pressures on the NHS.
“The reports of respiratory infections in China in the past few days appear to be attributed to both influenza and this human metapneumovirus, which is rather similar to the situation in the UK this week. A vaccine for a similar virus, RSV, was launched by the NHS in 2024 and new vaccines are being developed which could protect against both RSV and human metapneumovirus in one jab.”
Expert says no sign of serious global issue with HMPV infection
Wednesday 8 January 2025 19:00 , Alexander ButlerProf Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, has offered reassurances that there are no signs of a more serious global issue with HMPV, despite a recent increase in diagnoses in England.
He told the Science Media Centre: “In England we have seen a fairly marked increase in recent weeks – so far the peak per cent positivity is a little over what it was this time last year so no major difference to usual, unless infections positivity rates continue to increase in coming weeks.
“So overall, I don’t think there [are] currently any signs of a more serious global issue.”
He added: “HMPV is a quite common respiratory infection that peaks in winter. Almost every child will have at least one infection with HMPV by their fifth birthday and we can expect to go on to to have multiple reinfections throughout life.”
How to prevent HMPV transmission
Wednesday 8 January 2025 20:00 , Alexander ButlerHMPV (human metapneumovirus) spreads through direct contact with infected individuals or by touching contaminated surfaces, experts say.
Unlike viruses like flu, RSV, and Covid-19, there is no vaccine for HMPV, Dr Carla Garcia Carreno, director of infection prevention and control at Children’s Medical Center in Plano, Texas says. “We don’t have that advantage of priming or boosting our immune system to fight these viruses. But still, everything else that we learned for Covid can apply to metapneumovirus.”
She told CBS News: “If somebody’s sick, try to avoid crowding so they don’t expose everybody, especially the vulnerable people. If that person is sick and can not avoid going to a place where other people are, then try to use a mask, use cough and sneezing etiquette and good hand washing.”
Doctor says it is vital for China to share infection data
Wednesday 8 January 2025 21:00 , Alexander ButlerA disease expert has urged China to share infection data amid an outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) which has spread across four countries.
Dr Sanjaya Senanayake, infectious disease expert associate professor of medicine at The Australian National University, said it was “vital” for China to share information in a “timely manner”.
“Also, we will need genomic data confirming that HMPV is the culprit, and that there aren’t any significant mutations of concern. Such genomic data will also guide vaccine development,” he told MailOnline.
Expert says ‘situation is very different to Covid-19 pandemic’
Wednesday 8 January 2025 22:00 , Alexander ButlerJill Carr, a virologist in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University, Australia, said the situation is “very different to the Covid-19 pandemic”.
She told Politico: “The virus [Covid-19] was completely new in humans and arose from a spill-over from animals and spread to pandemic levels because there was no prior exposures or protective immunity in the community.”
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
Wednesday 8 January 2025 23:00 , Alexander ButlerWhat is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
Everything we know about HMPV in the UK: Symptoms, case numbers and how to get a test
00:01 , Alexander ButlerEverything we know about HMPV in the UK: Symptoms, case numbers and how to get a test
How worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts explain
01:00 , Alexander ButlerHow worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts weigh in
What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
02:00 , Alexander ButlerWhat is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
Pictured: A patient waits in a hospital ward amid an outbreak of HMPV across China
03:00 , Alexander ButlerCovid-19 skewed our perception of routine respiratory illnesses, expert says
03:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarAmesh Adalja, an infectious-diseases physician and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told the Washington Post that Covid-19 distorted our perceptions of infectious-disease threats, especially when images of sick people emerge from China.
“There’s just this tendency post-Covid to treat every infectious-disease anything as an emergency when it’s not. You wouldn’t probably be calling me in 2018 about this.”
Experts say that human metapneumovirus (HMPV) behaves like RSV, with varying severity year to year, and there is nothing particularly worrying about HMPV.
US monitoring HMPV cases
04:00 , Alexander ButlerThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are currently “monitoring” reports of increasing cases of human metapneumovirus in China’s northern provinces, according to reports.
“CDC is aware of reported increases of HMPV in China and is in regular contact with international partners and monitoring reports of increased disease,” a spokesperson for the CDC said.
“These reports are not currently a cause for concern in the U.S.,” the spokesperson added.
No unusual reports of HMPV outbreak patterns reported in China, WHO says
04:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe World Health Organisation has said that it is in contact with Chinese health officials and has received no reports of unusual HMPV outbreak patterns.
“WHO continues to monitor respiratory illnesses at global, regional and country levels through collaborative surveillance systems, and provides updates as needed,’‘ it said.
Chinese authorities have reported that the healthcare system is functioning normally, with no emergency declarations or responses initiated.
India, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan reported cases of HMPV in late December and Bali started monitoring flights from China and Malaysia in the wake of the rise in HMPV infections. However, authorities maintain that the virus has been around for decades and that there is nothing unusual about the infections.
Experts advise practising good sneezing and coughing etiquette, and hand washing to mitigate transmission.
More information needed, experts say
05:00 , Alexander ButlerDr Andrew Catchpole, chief scientific officer at London-based research organisation hVIVO, said “more information on the specific strain” of the virus was needed, but that experts did not consider it to have pandemic potential.
“HMPV is usually detected in the winter periods but it does seem that the rates of serious infection may be higher in China than what we would expect in a normal year,” he told the Evening Standard.
“We need more information on the specific strain that is circulating to start to understand if this is the usual circulating strains or if the virus causing high infection rates in China has some differences.”
China’s state-run media points finger at Western outlets for ‘exaggerating’ HMPV outbreak
05:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarChina’s state-run newspaper The Global Times has accused Western media of “exaggerating” reports of a surge in HMPV infections in China.
The outlet said that foreign media claimed that HMPV infections have overwhelmed hospitals in China and drew comparisons to Covid-19.
In response, Chinese authorities have said that they remain transparent in reporting infectious diseases. The World Health Organisation has said that it is in contact with Chinese health officials and has received no reports of unusual HMPV outbreak patterns.
“Over the past two years, awareness of HMPV infections in China has grown despite the virus being first identified more than 20 years ago, and has been circulating among people for as long as 60 years. The increase of awareness is primarily due to the improvement in our country’s respiratory pathogen detection capabilities and the increased public attention toward respiratory infectious diseases,” Li Tongzeng, the chief physician of the infection department at Beijing You’an Hospital, told The Global Times.
Current situation in China
06:00 , Alexander ButlerChina’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration recently acknowledged an increase in respiratory infections, including HMPV.
In response, it has launched a pilot programme to track pneumonia of unknown origin, aiming to improve the identification and management of such cases.
This involves closer coordination between laboratories and health agencies and ensuring timely reporting of new cases.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday the disease was spreading at “a smaller scale compared to the previous year”.
This mirrors seasonal trends seen in other countries, including the UK, which is experiencing similar spikes in respiratory illnesses this winter.
What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
06:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarAs spikes in a respiratory virus and images of overwhelmed intensive care units emerge, there is a worrying echo of the early days of Covid. Zoë Beaty asks if Beijing is downplaying what is happening in the northern provinces and how worried the rest of us should be:
What is really behind the mystery new virus gripping China and the world
How was Human metapneumovirus discovered?
07:00 , Alexander ButlerResearchers in the Netherlands discovered the virus in 2001. Scientists collected 28 samples from children in the Netherlands who had unexplained respiratory illnesses.
No recognised illnesses were detected in their blood, despite the fact that a number of them had severe illnessess and required mechanical breathing.
Before being viewed under an electron microscope, the samples were grown in several cell types from dogs, chickens, and monkeys.
Who is at risk from HMPV?
07:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarExperts say that HMPV poses the greatest risk to the elderly, very young children, and immunocompromised individuals, potentially causing severe illnesses like bronchitis and pneumonia.
Prof Paul Griffin, director of infectious diseases at Mater Health Services in Brisbane, told The Guardian that “it certainly can and does cause severe disease, that’s why I think it’s important that people know it’s out there”.
He said: “The challenge is at the moment there’s not much we can do except educate people [that] it’s around to reduce transmission. There’s no vaccine or antivirals, although there are some vaccines in development.”
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
08:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarChina is experiencing a surge in infections of a respiratory virus, leading to reports of overcrowded hospitals, new monitoring measures and public concerns about an outbreak.
The virus, identified as human metapneumovirus (HMPV), has seen cases spiking across northern Chinese provinces this winter, particularly among children.
The outbreak comes five years after the world was first alerted to the emergence of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China, which later turned into a global pandemic with seven million deaths reported.
Photos and videos of people wearing masks in hospitals in China emerged on social media platforms and local reports compared the scenes to the initial outbreak of Covid.
Health authorities are implementing new measures to monitor and manage the spread of pneumonia cases of unknown origin. Nonetheless, Beijing has downplayed the developments as an annual winter occurrence.
Read more here:
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
People with HMPV urged to limit contact with others
08:08 , Alexander ButlerPeople with HMPV have been advised by the UK Health Security Agency to limit contact with others and to wear a mask.
Dr Conall Watson, Consultant Epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “HMPV is a common respiratory infection in winter, and we typically see activity reaching a peak at this time of year.
“Infections are usually mild, causing symptoms of a common cold. Our surveillance systems in GP surgeries and hospitals indicate that levels are in line with what we would expect to see. Most people have had hMPV by the time they are five years old and catch it again throughout their lives.
“As with all respiratory viruses, you can help reduce infections being passed on through regular handwashing and catching coughs and sneezes in tissues and throwing them away.
“If you have symptoms such as a high temperature, cough and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable.
“There are many viruses in circulation at the moment, including flu - if you have symptoms of a respiratory illness and you need to go out, our advice continues to be that you should consider wearing a face mask.”
EU monitoring HMPV cases
08:18 , Alexander ButlerThe European Union is monitoring cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) amid an outbreak of the disease in China.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said cases across Europe was not unusual for this time of year, but would continue to assess the situation.
“Based on the current information, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) considers that the current epidemiological situation in China reflects a seasonal rise in respiratory infections caused by common respiratory pathogens and does not pose any specific concern for the EU/EEA,” it said.
“ECDC continues to monitor the situation in collaboration with the Chinese CDC and WHO/EURO to gather additional information.”
Influenza cases outnumber HMPV in Chinese hospitals this winter - report
08:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarChinese hospitals are currently treating more cases of influenza than human metapneumovirus (HMPV) this winter, the South China Morning Post reported.
Doctors and officials in China report that while HMPV cases have risen slightly, influenza remains the dominant respiratory illness, with no evidence of an unusual outbreak of HMPV.
Kan Biao, an official from China’s CDC, said at a 27 December press conference that HMPV cases among individuals under 14 were on the rise, particularly in northern provinces. He said that while China is likely to experience various respiratory infections during winter and spring, the total number of cases this year is expected to be lower than last year.
Who is at risk from HMPV?
09:33 , Alexander ButlerExperts say that HMPV poses the greatest risk to the elderly, very young children, and immunocompromised individuals, potentially causing severe illnesses like bronchitis and pneumonia.
Prof Paul Griffin, director of infectious diseases at Mater Health Services in Brisbane, told The Guardian that “it certainly can and does cause severe disease, that’s why I think it’s important that people know it’s out there”.
He said: “The challenge is at the moment there’s not much we can do except educate people [that] it’s around to reduce transmission. There’s no vaccine or antivirals, although there are some vaccines in development.”
China’s state-run media points finger at Western outlets for ‘exaggerating’ HMPV outbreak
10:39 , Alexander ButlerChina’s state-run newspaper The Global Times has accused Western media of “exaggerating” reports of a surge in HMPV infections in China.
The outlet said that foreign media claimed that HMPV infections have overwhelmed hospitals in China and drew comparisons to Covid-19.
In response, Chinese authorities have said that they remain transparent in reporting infectious diseases. The World Health Organisation has said that it is in contact with Chinese health officials and has received no reports of unusual HMPV outbreak patterns.
“Over the past two years, awareness of HMPV infections in China has grown despite the virus being first identified more than 20 years ago, and has been circulating among people for as long as 60 years. The increase of awareness is primarily due to the improvement in our country’s respiratory pathogen detection capabilities and the increased public attention toward respiratory infectious diseases,” Li Tongzeng, the chief physician of the infection department at Beijing You’an Hospital, told The Global Times.
What is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
11:12 , Alexander ButlerWhat is HMPV? China steps up monitoring amid new virus outbreak
How worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts explain
12:24 , Alexander ButlerHow worried should you be about the HMPV outbreak in China? Experts weigh in
Everything we know about HMPV in the UK: Symptoms, case numbers and how to get a test
13:30 , Alexander ButlerEverything we know about HMPV in the UK: Symptoms, case numbers and how to get a test
