Getty ImagesThe number of people infected with the influenza-like human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has soared in China, raising concerns that the new coronavirus pandemic could return.
Images of hospitals filled with masked patients were widely circulated on social media, but medical experts say HMPV is different from the new coronavirus and has been around for many years.
They say China and other countries are simply experiencing a seasonal increase in HMPV, typically seen in winter.
What is HMPV, what are the symptoms, and how does it spread?
HMPV was first identified in the Netherlands in 2001 and is spread through direct person-to-person contact or when someone touches a contaminated surface.
This virus causes a mild upper respiratory tract infection in most people.
It is usually almost indistinguishable from influenza.
Symptoms for most people include cough, fever, and nasal congestion.
The very young, including children under the age of two, are most vulnerable to the virus.
People with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly and advanced cancer patients, are also at greater risk, said Singaporean infectious disease expert Sue Lee Yang.
Once infected, a “small but significant proportion” of immunocompromised people can develop a more severe disease that affects the lungs, with symptoms of wheezing, shortness of breath and croup.
“Many people will require hospital treatment, but only a small number are at risk of dying from the infection,” Dr Hsu said.
Why are HMPV infections increasing in China?
Like many respiratory infections, HMPV is most active in late winter and spring.
This is because the virus survives better in the cold, and people spend more time indoors with windows closed, making it easier for them to spread from person to person.
In northern China, the current HMPV surge coincides with low temperatures expected to continue into March.
Jacqueline Stevens, an epidemiologist at Australia’s Flinders University, said many other countries in the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States, are also seeing increases in HMPV infection rates.
“While this is concerning, the increase in prevalence is likely a normal seasonal increase seen in winter,” she said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) monitors the incidence of influenza-like illnesses across the Northern Hemisphere. It said it had not received any reports of unusual infection patterns in China or other regions..
Chinese authorities said they have confirmed that the medical system is not under strain and that no state of emergency has been declared or response measures have been taken so far.
Is HMPV widespread in the UK?
The incidence of HMPV in the UK has been steadily increasing since October 2024.
The UK Health and Safety Agency (UKHSA) does not publish the number of recorded infections.
but Latest data It shows that the percentage of people testing positive for the disease rose sharply in the third week of December and remained at that high level in the following weeks.
But UKHSA says this is fully in line with normal seasonal trends and the levels of illness seen in GP surgeries and hospitals are as expected.
Is it possible that a pandemic like the coronavirus will occur again?
Experts say concerns about the coronavirus pandemic are overblown and that while such events are usually caused by new viruses, this is not the case with HMPV.
This disease already exists around the world and has been for decades. This means people around the world “have some degree of pre-existing immunity due to past exposure,” Dr Hsu said.
“Almost all children have had at least one HMPV infection by their fifth birthday, and can be expected to have multiple reinfections throughout their lives,” said Paul Paul, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, UK. Hunter stated.
“Right now, I don’t think there are any signs of a more serious global problem.”
However, health officials recommend taking prudent precautions to avoid contracting HMPV and other respiratory illnesses.
- Wear a mask in crowded places
- Avoid crowds as much as possible if you are at high risk for more serious illness
- wash hands regularly
- Dispose of tissues safely
You may also consider vaccinations for other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza.
In the UK, pregnant women and adults aged 75 to 79 Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.
RSV is a common infection that causes coughs and colds, but it can be serious for infants and the elderly.
