Five years on from the coronavirus pandemic’s emergence in Wuhan, a respiratory virus is sparking worry across China. The human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, has seen a surge in cases throughout northern provinces this winter, with children under the age of 14 making up a significant number of patients.
Alarmingly similar to common cold or flu symptoms, HMPV can lead to severe complications, especially in vulnerable groups such as infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems or with existing respiratory issues like asthma. It spreads via contact with respiratory droplets from infected individuals or contaminated surfaces.
Key symptoms include a cough, fever, nasal congestion and fatigue, with some also experiencing a rash, shortness of breath or a sore throat, according to the Cleveland Clinic. While not part of standard healthcare tests, swab and PCR tests can diagnose HMPV.
Children under the age of 14 have been particularly affected by the outbreak
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There is currently no vaccine or cure for HMPV, with treatment primarily focused on symptom management, which most people will be able to do at home. Symptoms of HMPV typically ease within three to six days, but severe cases can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis, necessitating hospital stays. The New York Times reports that while the virus is “rarely fatal” in wealthier nations, it poses a greater threat in countries with weaker healthcare systems.
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In China, hospitals are struggling under the surge, with images of masked citizens drawing parallels to the early days of Covid and raising alarms on social media. Yet, unlike Covid-19, HMPV isn’t new; it’s been known since 2001, when Dutch scientists identified it after children became sick, though it likely existed long before.
Unlike Covid, tests, treatment plans and symptom management for HMPV already exist
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Chinese health officials are now enacting proven strategies to control the pneumonia’s spread. Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, told The Independent that respiratory infections are common in winter, suggesting this year’s outbreak is milder and less widespread than in the past: “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.”