HMPV virus – latest: Cases begin rising across parts of world after outbreak in China

Jill 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.”

The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) weekly National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report found that rates of HMPV have increased slightly to 4.5 per cent.

The highest positive rate was among those five-years-old and younger at 10 per cent.

UKHSA said data for this week’s report should be “interpreted with caution in the light of changes in patterns of healthcare use, social mixing and lagged reporting due to the Christmas holidays.”

The agency added that HMPV is a respiratory illness the UK sees every year, and cases usually rise in the winter.

Experts have reassured that a rise in cases is normal during the winter months, when rates of a number of respiratory diseases, including the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), tend to rise.

“China is experiencing a large outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases at the moment. Although this is a priority for China’s health system, it should not lead to immediate concerns about a new pandemic,” Sanjaya Senanayake, a specialist in infectious diseases at the Australian National University told Politico.

“At this stage, the likelihood is that China is experiencing a bad HMPV season, in the same way that in some years we have an overwhelming flu season.” he added.

The UK Health Security Agency added its surveillance indicates that HMPV levels are consistent with what we typically see during winter.

Hong 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.

Reassuring citizens and tourists, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said: “I can assure you that the Chinese government cares about the health of Chinese citizens and foreigners coming to China”, adding that “it is safe to travel in China”.

Human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, is a respiratory virus that causes symptoms similar to the common cold and influenza. While the illness is typically mild, it can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, particularly in infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

The virus is not new but has gained attention amid a surge in cases, particularly in children under 14 in northern China.

First identified in 2001, HMPV is a single-stranded RNA virus that spreads through respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated surfaces. Cases have been previously identified in various countries, including the United Kingdom.

Its symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and fatigue, with an incubation period of three to six days. Unlike Covid-19, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for HMPV; treatment primarily involves managing symptoms.

The virus, identified as human metapneumovirus (HMPV), 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 suggested hospitals were becoming crowded.

HMPV is a respiratory disease that causes flu or cold-like symptoms. However, it can increase risks or lead to more serious complications like bronchitis or pneumonia, particularly among the elderly, young children, and immunocompromised people.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday: “Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season.

“The diseases appear to be less severe and spread with a smaller scale compared to the previous year.”